Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 13 November 16, 1995 - Budget requests finalized

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A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Budget requests finalized

By David Nutter

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 13 - November 16, 1995

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors has given final approval to the university's 1996-98 biennial operating-budget proposals.

The university is seeking $28 million in General Fund support for four major program initiatives. The initiatives are supported by approximately $10 million in internal reallocations based on the university's restructuring efforts.

Specifically, the university is seeking funds for Enhancing the Teaching and Learning Environment Through the Use of Technology. This initiative, totaling $12 million, seeks funds for five separate programs. Included in the initiatives are funds for a collaborative effort to establish a state-wide broadband voice, data and video network; an advanced communications project to link Virginia Tech's computer-science, fiber-optics, and human-factors engineering strengths with local schools, business, industry, and government; Project Enable, and an Advanced Computing Project that seeks to establish three laboratories during each year of the biennium featuring state-of-the-art desktop workstations.

Support is also being sought for Enhancing Economic Development Through Advanced Education and Technical Assistance. Budgeted at $4 million, this initiative seeks to deliver specialized degree programs and short courses in support of the commonwealth's economic-development priorities to locations around the state.

The university is also seeking $1.6 million for increased operating and maintenance costs for facilities to support new buildings that are coming on line during the biennium. And $10.4 million is requested to cover the lack of state support for the 1,000 in-state students the university has taken in during the past five years, and to meet environmental and occupational safety mandates.