Nixon announces $1.7 million in upgrades at MSU-West Plains

(From Gov. Jay Nixon)

Gov. Jay Nixon today visited Missouri State University-West Plains to announce more than $1.7 million in improvements made possible through Building Affordability, an initiative proposed by the Governor in collaboration with public colleges and universities and passed with bi-partisan support in the General Assembly this year.

“Every dollar we invest in higher education through Building Affordability is one more dollar that colleges and universities don’t have to raise through tuition increases,” Gov. Nixon said. “This $200 million bipartisan initiative will help to ensure Missouri students are learning in facilities that are modern, safe and meeting the needs of tomorrow’s workforce, while keeping our state a leader in college affordability.”

At Missouri State University-West Plains, Building Affordability will provide $1,547,890 to help convert the 8,200 square foot post office building, which was originally built in 1966, into an academic building. Once complete in the fall of 2018, the facility, newly named Hass-Darr Hall, will provide space for the Carol Silvey Student Union, William and Virginia Darr Honors Program, tutoring services, veterans services, advising center, the admissions office and other much needed classroom and administrative office space that will enhance student learning and academic success.

The total cost of the Hass-Darr Hall project will be $4.5 to $5 million, which will be covered with a combination of donor and university reserve funds and $1.5 million in bonding funds. . In addition to the bonding funds, significant contributions from Mary Hass Sheid and the William R. Hass family, and Bill and Virginia Darr will make this project a reality.

Additionally, Building Affordability will provide $220,000 to install new sprinkler systems and fire panels in several buildings on the West Plains campus, including Garnett Library, Putnam Student Center, and Looney Hall. Currently, these facilities are without a sprinkler system and fire alarm panel.

“Converting the post office into an academic building will create new, modern learning spaces for students without the considerable costs of building a new facility,” said Chancellor Drew Bennett, Missouri State University-West Plains. “We appreciate the Governor’s leadership and the legislature’s support in bringing these dollars to our campus so we can continue to offer Missouri students an excellent education without raising tuition to cover the costs of these projects.”

This past August, Gov. Nixon visited the Missouri State University campus in Springfield to announce more than $17 million in improvements, including renovations at Ellis and Hill halls, and various system upgrades throughout campus.

Building Affordability is a component of Build Missouri, a capital improvements initiative that will fund nearly 500 projects in every corner of the state through bond proceeds and other sources. Build Missouri includes bond proceeds for repairs and renovations at state facilities, veterans homes, state parks and higher education campuses, and for the completion of a new state-of-the-art mental hospital in Fulton, as well as non-bonding sources for other projects, including conservation areas, highway patrol facilities, and other facilities.

Through Building Affordability, Missouri is investing $200 million in higher education campuses throughout the state. These additional investments by the state will help colleges and universities make needed renovations and improvements to their campuses without raising tuition to cover the costs of these projects.

Over the past six years, the Governor’s administration has paid down hundreds of millions of dollars in state debt. Based on current projections, after the implementation of Build Missouri, state government will still have lower levels of state-issued bonding debt than when the Governor first took office.

Earlier this year, as a result of a strong record of fiscally responsible budget management, Missouri’s AAA credit rating wasreaffirmed by the rating agencies. This allows the state to benefit from low interest rates, and makes long-term capital investments more affordable.

The most recent report on pricing trends by The College Board found Missouri once again leading all 50 states in holding down tuition increases at public universities over the last six years. In September, Gov. Nixon and the leaders of the state’s public four-year universities and two-year colleges announced an agreement to freeze tuition for Missouri undergraduates for the 2016-2017 school year.

In addition, Gov. Nixon’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget will include an additional $55.7 million – a six percent increase – in performance funding for higher education, which will bring total state funding for higher education to a record $985 million next year.