The University of Central Arkansas may soon have more housing and better computer technology capabilities after the board of trustees authorized the administration to seek up to $21 million in bonds.
Last fall the board approved a request by the university to seek $10 million for the construction of a new residence hall. This bond issue was combined, Tuesday, with another $11 million to cover a variety of projects for housing and technology improvements.
The university now has the authority to seek up to $11 million in bonds for the construction of a new residence hall. The hall will be located south of New Hall on Farris Road. The new construction will be similar to New Hall and will house 350 students in residential suites.
In addition to the new residence hall construction, the university also will seek up to $5.5 million to renovate Stadium Park Complex and other campus housing units.
The board also approved the university to seek up to $4.5 million in bonds to enter a two-phase campus-wide technology upgrade.
The first phase would use $3.5 million to increase the university?s bandwidth capabilities, install more firewalls for security and provide the university with back-up solutions when the network is down.
?In order to be able to move forward with the IBM contract, they have determined that we must improve our infrastructure in three areas,? UCA President Lu Hardin said.
The second phase of the bond issue would provide up to $1 million for software improvements for faculty, staff and students.
Hardin said the bonds would likely be paid off early once the university begins a project with IBM this fall that would create the first wireless cloud at any university in the nation. The cloud will not only increase clarity of cellular and Internet communications across campus, but also will allow the university to generate revenue by leasing antenna space to cellular companies.
-Jennifer Boyett
