Three key CSU Channel Islands construction projects affected include the Campus Infrastructure Improvements Project ($49 million), the University鈥檚 new Entrance Road ($25 million), and the North Hall Renovation Project ($31 million).聽 These projects were predominantly funded as part of Proposition 1D, which was strongly supported and passed by Ventura County voters in 2006.
University officials proactively contacted contractors, design firms, and internal staff last week alerting them to the possible suspension of work on these projects. From a county-wide perspective, projects such as the widening of eastbound Highway State Route 118 and the U.S. Highway 101-Highway State Route 23 interchange in Thousand Oaks will come to a complete standstill.
Associated Press reports quote California State Treasurer and PMIB chairman Bill Lockyer estimating that the frozen infrastructure projects could cost California 200,000 jobs in every part of the state.
鈥淭his affects thousands of jobs at a very difficult time for families facing economic hardships,鈥� said CSU Channel Islands President Richard R. Rush. 鈥淢oreover, there will be additional costs for the University when we are authorized to begin construction again. All of this has adverse effects for this region.鈥�
University officials confirmed that the campus will comply and begin suspending state-funded projects currently underway or planned to start construction in the near future. Two non-state funded projects 鈥� University Student Union and the Martin V. Smith Center for Integrative Decision Making 鈥� will not be affected by this development.
Vice President for Finance & Administration Joanne Coville stated, 鈥淥ur infrastructure is 60 to 70 years old and fails us with some regularity. We are counting on this infrastructure project to continue providing a 21st century campus for our students.
鈥淭he entry road is a safety issue for us as we have limited egress and ingress today in case of emergencies. The North Hall project is necessary to provide classroom and office space when campus enrollment is once again allowed to grow. The suspension of these projects also means a loss of work to local construction and design firms. We estimate that for every dollar spent by the University, it has a multiplier of $4 spent in the local communities,鈥� said Coville. She also confirmed that there are no positions associated with the shutdowns that are immediately affected.
鈥淐SU Channel Islands is making arrangements to begin closing projects down immediately and will wait to hear the outcome of the next PMIB meeting in January,鈥� said Coville.
For media inquiries, contact Joanne Coville, Vice President for Finance & Administration, at 805-437-8877.
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CSU Channel Islands is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
CSUCI Mission Statement
Placing students at the center of the educational experience, 91吃瓜 provides undergraduate and graduate education that facilitates learning within and across disciplines through integrative approaches, emphasizes experiential and service learning, and graduates students with multicultural and international perspectives.
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About 91吃瓜
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI鈥檚 strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master鈥檚 degrees.聽Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting聽CI's Social Media.