University of Rhode Island President David M. Dooley and Dean of Engineering Raymond M. Wright campaigned on Monday for the necessary funds still needed for the completion of the new engineering complex.
Historically, Rhode Islanders have often voted in favor of projects supporting education, but Dooley said he does not want to take anything for granted. “We’ve never failed to pass a bond that was a university priority,” Dooley said. “We don’t want to start here.”
If funding is denied on Nov. 8 when Rhode Islanders step into the voting booths, plans for the new build cannot be completed. The entire project hangs on the approval question four, according to Wright.
In 2014, $125 million was originally allocated towards the build per request of former Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who wanted to see the project be split into two phases. The original request was for $145.5 million, which occurred in 2013. Two years later, the university is now hoping to collect the additional $25.5 million.
“It’s important to emphasize that this is not an overrun,” Dooley said. “This is not a project that’s any different than what was proposed in 2014. It’s just that, for the convenience of the state, we divided it into two phases.”
Current Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has made plans for an additional $20 million to be allocated towards research and development, which Dooley and Wright both agree will help create jobs in Rhode Island.
According to the college of engineering’s poll, which was conducted six months from from students’ graduation date, 57 percent of URI engineering graduates are employed in the state of Rhode Island. Additionally, more than 750 Rhode Island companies employ URI engineering graduates, and more than 4,000 alumni are currently living in the Ocean State.
“One of the things that the college of engineering has done a very good job on in the last decade or so, is that they’re working incredibly close with industry right now,” Wright said. “Both old industry, established industry that’s here, but also the new industry that wants to make it’s way into the state.”
The five buildings that will be demolished if question four is approved are all more than 60 years old, according to Wright. The simple, two-story red brick buildings that stand in the engineering complex now will not be able to keep up with the growing demand of students wanting to get into the program.
Enrollment in the university’s engineering department has grown by 49 percent since 2003, and the program is only expected to grow more. Despite the college’s anticipated relocation, provided that the state approves the project, numbers of incoming students have not wavered.
If and when the new engineering complex is completed in 2019, the university anticipates an additional projected growth rate of 44 percent.
Engineering student Michael McWeeney said he understands why the buildings must be completely redone, but that he doesn’t believe it is fair to students in other disciplines who are also in much need of funding.
“I am in support of the bill, but I have been getting some backlash from some of my family and friends,” McWeeney said. To him and many others, question four appears as if the university is asking for more even money, rather than working towards fulfilling the original asking price like Dooley stated.
Junior engineering major Megan McSweeney said she completely understands why many students in the fine arts think the new engineering complex is unfair, especially since she’s a music minor herself.
“I spend time in both buildings, but what people don’t realize is that all they see is Kirk, on the road, which is new,” McSweeney said. “That’s all they see. There are four other engineering buildings. The facilities that can’t be seen from the street are horrible.”