Year in Review: Board of Regents Takes Action on Large, Lasting Projects

Vern Lamplot
Dec. 2, 1999


The Student Union was the biggest decision by the Arizona Board of Regents this year affecting the UA. Regents gave the final go ahead to the $60 million project in February. The union, now under construction, is using a fast track design-build process by the winning team of Conelly Swinton Construction and MHTN Architects Inc.

Joel Valdez, senior vice president for finance, said that financing the building has been a sticking point for years.

President Likins said the financial plan came together when Athletic Director Jim Livengood agreed to give up the state portion of the Intercollegiate Athletics budget, $500,000 per year for 25 years, to help retire the debt.

After nearly three years of work, the board passed at its June meeting an updated policy governing intellectual property developed at Arizona's universities.

The policy is intended to enhance relationships between Arizona's universities and private companies and applies to all forms of intellectual property, not only to patents. It is intended to provide universities with "maximum flexibility" in dealing with private companies.

Last spring, the board unanimously approved naming the College of Business and Public Administration for Arizona businessman Karl Eller.

Eller and his wife Stevie have contributed more than $23 million through the years to the college and its programs.

President Peter Likins told regents, "(Eller) is a contributor in ways that go beyond the financial commitment, although that commitment is quite substantial."

Likins said Eller has served as a mentor for students. In addition, Stevie Eller has served on the UA Foundation Board for years.

Eller has a long association with the University. He grew up across from Arizona Stadium and fulfilled his childhood dream of playing football for the Wildcats after he entered the UA in 1949. He and Stevie met while attending the UA.

Also this year, the board unanimously approved changing the name of the University of Arizona Sierra Vista campus to the University of Arizona South. President Likins told the board that the campus already had a physical presence in Douglas, Ariz., and soon would be offering courses in Benson, Ariz. He said the new name would more closely reflect the campus' mission.

Gov. Jane Dee Hull named Christine Palacios and Gary Stuart to the Arizona Board of Regents on Sept. 29.

Palacios is vice president in charge of the Southern Arizona Division of Southwest Gas. She also serves on the School Facilities Board, which implements Students FIRST, the State's school construction system.

Stuart is a lawyer specializing in litigation with the firm of Jennings, Strouss and Salmon. He served as the independent counsel to the House of Representatives during the AzScam investigation.

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