The five-month moratorium on campus projects enacted on April 12 in an effort to defer cash spending will be lifted as planned on Sept. 12. The deferral was necessary to close the funding gap caused by the late-in-the-year state funding cut of $5.49 million.

“I’d like to thank our partners on and off campus for their patience and support during this moratorium,” says Rod Lehnertz, senior vice-president for finance and operations. “Many communities are affected as the university addresses the generational disinvestment from the state, and we appreciate your standing with us as we make difficult choices to maintain excellence for our students.”

The moratorium suspended all campus physical care and improvement projects from April 12 to Sept. 12, 2018, with limited exceptions for projects that had been bid and awarded or were already in construction, projects addressing public safety or building code concerns, and emergency projects of a critical or time-sensitive nature.

After evaluating levels of state support and other sources of funding such as tuition, grants, and private donations, university leadership decided to lift the moratorium and resume delayed projects.

Ongoing efforts to address continuous state cuts while maintaining student and research excellence have impacted the care and modernization of more than 250 university buildings. The average age of campus buildings is 45 years, and age-related repairs and upkeep will be necessary in the coming years to maintain safety and use. This year’s cost deferrals may result in more expensive costs in the future, due to increased wear on facilities and potential changes in the construction market during the moratorium.