Board approves HPER extentions, fee increase

The board of trustees voted unanimously Feb. 24 in favor of raising the HPER Center fee and allowing the issuance of bonds for expansion of the HPER Center.
The auxillary bonds will raise $15.5 million for the project.
The HPER Center expansion will feature a 25-yard-pool, exercise rooms, weight rooms and lockers, racquetball courts and a student lounge area.
SGA President Austin Hall said SGA has supported this expansion since the last resolution was voted on.
The board of trustees voted to increase the current HPR Center fee $1.62 per credit hour. This increase sets the HPER Center fee at $9,12 per credit hour and will raise an estimate, President Tom Courtway said, of $437,000.
Courtway requested $5,000 for cosmetic changes to the President’s House, which the board of trustees approved unanimously. The board also set restrictions and regulations toward major renovations to the President’s House and established a formal President’s Residence Advisory Committtee.
Board member Victor Green said Courtway should be appointed $10,000 per year for cosmetic changes to the President’s House because “say one year you want to change your carpet. That’s going to cost more than paint and one would like to be able to live comfortably.”
Courtway said, “I’d prefer to be at $5,000 [for changes.] If anything is done to the kitchen I will bring it before the board.”
The board voted in favor of allowing Courtway to spend $5,000 on cosmetic changes and chariman Rush Harding III said, “if it’s not working, we can always fix it.”
The President’s Residence Advisory Committee will review any and all proposed architectural, structural and landscaping changes to the President’s House.
In other business, the board of trustees approved a new seal for the university.
Until now, the university has used the Arkansas seal with the words “University of Central Arkansas” and “Conway” written around it. The UCA seal will now feature “University of Central Arkansas” and “1907” surrounding the four columns of Old Main.
Vice President of Governmental Relations Jeff Pitchford said the four columns have come to symbolize, over time, the four distinct names of the university of the years.
He said the university would have to inform surrounding universities of the new seal.