FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        February 27, 2004

NORTHWESTERN SEEKING $6.8 MILLION FROM PROPOSED CAPITAL BOND ISSUE

            A campus building for Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Woodward and renovations for two classroom buildings at the Alva Campus are included as projects in a $500 million capital improvement bond issue being proposed by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

            If approved by the Legislature, the bond issue would require ratification by Oklahoma voters.

            “It’s been more than a decade since Northwestern was provided with bond revenue for major capital improvements,” said Dr. Paul Beran, president of Northwestern. “Since that time, we have seen an increase in enrollment and the addition of campuses in Enid and Woodward. In addition, for the past two years Northwestern has experienced a cut in state funding.

            “We have some very critical needs that must be addressed.”

            Northwestern submitted to the State Regents a list of seven projects totaling $11.3 million for inclusion in the bond issue, but when the final list of projects was developed only three of the original projects were included totaling $6,813,432.

            The projects approved for inclusion in the bond issue are:

• $2.5 million for construction of a Woodward Campus, including classrooms and administrative offices
• $2.5 million for renovation of the Science Building, including updating labs and equipment and addressing Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The Science Building was constructed in 1963
• More than $1.8 million to renovate the Health and Physical Education Building, including renovation of classrooms and offices, converting the old swimming pool area into useable space and addressing ADA requirements. The building was constructed in 1969.

            Beran said the State Regents requested that any projects included in a proposed 2000 bond issue that was struck down by the Oklahoma Supreme Court last June, be given top priority in the new bond issue.

            “The Woodward Campus is a top priority of our legislative delegation,” Beran said. “We believe all of our projects are important and urge the Legislature to send this bond issue to a vote of the people.”

            More than 70 percent of voters gave their approval to the last bond issue in 1992.

            Beran said funding for other renovation projects at Northwestern will continue to be sought through grants and fundraising. These projects include renovation of Percefull Fieldhouse, Herod Hall Auditorium, Fine Arts Building and the Industrial Education Building, correction of structural problems in the J.W. Martin Library and the demolition of Oklahoma Hall.

-NW-

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