Subcommittee approves university methods of finance including $15 million UAPB allied health project

The review subcommittee approved seven methods of finance (MOF) items that fund campus projects across the state.

Katie Walden of the Bureau of Legislative Research summarized the seven items: ASU Jonesborough will amend an MOF for baseball stadium improvements, increasing the amount to $295,000 using university reserves; ASU Mountain Home will amend funds for HVAC controls and boiler replacement to $779,000 using institutional reserves; Black River Technical College presented a new MOF for deferred maintenance projects totaling $1,200,000; UA Community College at Batesville’s farm project gateway center MOF was increased to $5,600,000 from a combination of funds; UAMS presented a $300,000 MOF for PET cyclotron equipment to support cancer diagnosis and treatment; the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff showed an initial MOF tied to a $15,000,000 federal grant to build a two‑story allied health building and a 17‑space parking lot; and UCA amended a contract for phase 2 architectural design of a new multipurpose arena valued at $4,110,000.

Walden noted that the UAPB allied health project will appear later on the agenda in related capital contract items. After discussion the committee called for the motion, the items were seconded and approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: The MOFs establish how public universities plan to finance capital improvements, including a large federal‑grant‑backed allied health facility at UAPB that could affect campus program capacity.

What’s next: Individual construction contracts and delivery‑method approvals for some of these projects (for example, the UAPB allied health building) were reviewed later in the meeting and advanced by the committee.