On April 17, 1997, Philip E. Austin was inaugurated as the 13th president of the University of Connecticut. President Austin addressed those gathered to celebrate the event with the following words:

The installation of a university president is less the inauguration of an individual than the rededication of an institution. It marks a point along the University's historical path. I have called the University of Connecticut home for only six months, yet I am absolutely certain of the great potential of this University...

UConn, including the regional campuses, the Law School, and the Health Center in Farmington, is an institution that shares with all the great public universities across the United States a common tradition and a common set of assumptions about America's future. That tradition -- and those assumptions -- embody three concepts that are as valid as they are familiar to people concerned with higher education. They stand at the heart of what this administration will represent. They define our future agenda.

The first is excellence in our academic programs -- at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels, in the classrooms, the laboratories, and the libraries.

The second is access for the people of Connecticut, regardless of race, gender, national origin -- or economic condition.

The third is service -- to the state and beyond.

We have multiple responsibilities at the University of Connecticut. We seek to fulfill all of them. But we have no greater responsibility than to enable our students to expand their range of knowledge about the world, and their role in making that world a more tolerant, a more secure, a more productive, a more beautiful, and a more equitable place. Those goals are worth working for, worth arguing for, worth struggling for. They merit an investment of dollars; they merit moral support. And I believe that this University will use that investment and that support to make itself a model for the public universities of America.

I came to Connecticut last October firmly convinced that no public university in the United States is better positioned to improve, and improve dramatically, the level of excellence, access and service it offers. I retain that conviction. The University of Connecticut has been an important University for many decades. Now it has the potential to become a great University -- one of the handful of public institutions that define what a state can do when it makes a commitment of resources and a commitment of will.

That was a commitment that Connecticut renewed in 1995 when this state's leaders -- many of whom are here today -- authorized the long and ambitious journey we call UCONN 2000.

Evidence of that journey's early steps surrounds us today, a silent but powerful statement of the work of the Governor, President Pro Tem Sullivan, Speaker Ritter, other state legislators, and of the leaders of business and labor who joined forces with members of the Board of Trustees, alumni, administration, faculty, staff, and students to develop an ambitious plan and turned that plan into reality. On behalf of the entire University, I express our deepest gratitude to you, the leaders who brought UCONN 2000 into being.

Nothing is more important to the quality of life in this state than educational excellence. Nothing is more important to Connecticut's economic development. But even more fundamentally, nothing is more important to our sense of who we are as citizens of a human community and a democratic society. UCONN 2000 -- like the University of Connecticut itself, and like all the great American universities -- represents a commitment to the concept of education for its own sake, and on its own merits. It is in truth the foundation for all which lies ahead...

UCONN 2000: THE UPDATE

This is the fourth in a series of semi-annual reports to the Governor and the General Assembly pursuant to the provisions of Sections 10a-109 through 10a-109m of the Connecticut General Statute, originally An Act to Enhance the Infrastructure of the University of Connecticut, and now known as UCONN 2000.

The first report, dated October 1, 1995, placed this historic undertaking in the context of the University's strategic plan and provided a summary of the provisions of the law. Because the reporting deadline followed so closely on the heels of the enactment of UCONN 2000, many of the activities on which the University is required to report were in the earliest stages of development. This, and future reports, contains an increasing level of detail as projects are implemented and completed.

While most of the activities mentioned in this report are projects specified in the UCONN 2000 legislation, some are supported in whole or part by other funding sources. All significant projects underway are presented in this report, however, for two reasons. First, it is essential that all major capital activities are developed, implemented and reported in a comprehensive manner. Second, UCONN 2000 did more than provide a funding structure for the rebuilding of the University. The law also conferred upon UConn the flexibility and management authority necessary to enable the University to move forward with this tremendous effort in a focused and expeditious manner. Every aspect of the University's physical renewal has benefitted from the management oversight provisions of UCONN 2000.

UCONN 2000: ACTIVITIES COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY

PLANNING, DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

The following projects are presently covered by OCIP:

The following projects are either out to bid or will be bid in the near future and will also be covered by OCIP:

Current projections indicate potential savings of approximately $7,000,000 as a result of OCIP implementation.

Architects and engineers providing professional design services are normally covered for errors and omissions by insurance purchased for their practices. Although the practice policy is the most common type of insurance, the policy has several short-comings from the owner's point of view. The two most significant problems with the traditional policy are:

These drawbacks expose the University to substantial risk in an undertaking as large as UCONN 2000. In order to reduce that risk, the University investigated measures to supplement or replace traditional coverage. Based on this review, UConn has decided to replace the traditional policies with a new policy, one that will provide $10,000,000 of insurance per claim and aggregate per project. Most importantly, insurance will extend for a period of eight years after the last UCONN 2000 project is completed. This insurance program is designed to include major projects already in construction as well as all future UCONN 2000 projects. Sedgwick James of New England, Inc. submitted the successful proposal to provide the new service to the University.

The combination of the use of the web and traditional newspaper advertisements resulted in an excellent response to this year's new projects. Architect/Engineer teams have been selected for the following projects:

The only additional advertisements for the next few months will be for new open-ended architect and engineer contracts to ensure that qualified professionals are available for small projects. These contracts will replace the on-call list selected two years ago.

Identification of infrastructure capacities to support growth including:

Vehicular circulation (automobiles, shuttle transit and bicycles)

The master planning effort will be completed in the Fall of 1997. The University of Connecticut is in a unique position -- with the support of UCONN 2000 funding, the University will be able to see significant aspects of its Master Plan implemented in the coming decade.

CONSTRUCTION

This prequalification procedure will be followed for these additional projects within the next two months.

Physics/Biology Building - Tech Quad Phase I

Heating Plant Upgrade

Agricultural Biotechnology Building

PRIVATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT

FINANCE

General Obligation Bonds Secured by the States Debt Special Commitment

University Special Obligation Revenue Bonds Secured by Pledged Revenues

The law also authorizes the University to issue Special Obligation Revenue bonds. The debt service on the Special Obligation Revenue bonds is normally paid for from certain revenues of the University pledged in the particular bond series indenture.

Any University Special Obligation Revenue bonds to be issued might also be backed by the State's Special Capital Reserve Fund ("SCRF"). The SCRF may be funded at issuance at the lesser of the maximum amount of debt service in any calendar year or any succeeding calendar year on all outstanding bonds issued under the indenture, or 10% of the bond issue. The State is obligated to refill the SCRF to the required amount should the SCRF funds be drawn upon to pay debt service.

The University is planning a special obligation revenue bond issue during early Fiscal Year 1998 to finance the South Campus Complex, including a dormitory and dining hall facility. These bonds are currently planned to be secured by selected student fees as well as the State's Special Capital Reserve Fund.