By Mark Bauer/editor-in-chief
Construction costs for the new downtown campus have turned out to be more than expected, and TCC officials have approved the use of nearly half the $22 million contingency.
In the January board of trustees meeting, officials cited unforeseen costs as the reason for requesting the $10.9 million transfer from the contingency to the construction fund.
To date, $297.5 million has been set aside for the project.
David Wells, vice chancellor for operations and planning services, said the team responsible for construction is evaluating ways to save money for the remainder of the project.
When the board asked where the rest of the funds to be allocated will come from should the contingency be depleted before construction is finished, Wells said, “Well, I can’t say we won’t come ask you for more money.”
He did say that as they finish the first phase of the project, they probably will resort to using the contingency. At that point, Wells said the board would either have to approve more money or need to approve additional cutbacks.
Originally, the campus was estimated to open for the spring semester in 2010, but no official date has been given.
Officials are working with the Army Corps of Engineers and will conduct studies to determine environmental factors before they can submit an application to begin construction of a retaining wall. The wall, which required $3.4 million of the $10.9 million contingency approval, is necessary to protect the integrity of the Trinity River levee.
During the meeting, the board also approved a list of 17 professors from all four campuses who were eligible to receive tenure.
Once a faculty member receives tenure, Erma Johnson Hadley, vice chancellor of administration, said, the burden of proof falls on the shoulders of the school if a professor should be terminated. Otherwise, the burden of proof would lie on the shoulders of those professors who are not tenured.
Faculty granted tenure include the following: From SE are James Chegwidden, computer science; James Dang, computer science; Nostratallah Nezafati, computer science; Garry Tomerlin, computer science; and Dr. Xeuyuan Wu, mathematics.
From South, Dr. Oscar Dressler, fine arts; Xiujun Farrier, accounting and office administration; Amy Gee, nursing; and Tara Reed, communication.
From NW, Rick Frye, fire technology; Dr. Christine Hubbard, English; and William Wekenborg, fire technology.
From NE, Dr. Eric Devlin, English; Dr. Timothy Murphy, real estate/business; Cindy O’Neal, health sciences; Dr. Ludwig Otto, English; and Dr. Mary Williams, foreign languages.
