Cabinet Highlights: Sept. 20, 2011

Cabinet attendees were given a preview of two upcoming capital projects, both of which are scheduled to be discussed at Friday’s Arizona Board of Regents session. Ardrey Auditorium is scheduled to undergo a facelift beginning in late October. The renovation will improve seating, address fire and life/safety issues and improve acoustics. New fixtures could save NAU up to 70 percent on energy. Jennus Burton, vice president for Finance and Administration, showed tentative plans for a new 30,000- to 45,000-square-foot building funded by the NAU Foundation. The building, if approved by ABOR and the Legislature, would be located near ITS.

President John Haeger invited campus to urge qualified students to apply for NAU’s student regent. The successful candidate would serve on the board for two years.

NAU will present its proposed FY2013 budget to the regents during Thursday’s ABOR meeting at NAUPat Haeuser, vice president for Planning, Budget and Institutional Effectiveness, said NAU’s request of $116.7 million includes $3 million in “disparity funding.” If approved, disparity funding will add about $15 million to NAU’s base over five years.

As part of his Student Success Initiative, President Haeger encouraged faculty and staff to attend presentations by Robert Zemsky, of the Learning Alliance, on Sept. 27 and representatives from NBC Learn on Sept. 29. Details are forthcoming.