To the Editor:

Re: “C.U. to Evaluate Building Projects During Pause,” News, Feb. 9

Recent coverage in The Sun of the University’s construction pause calls for the following important clarification.

On Oct. 30, 2008, a 90-day construction pause was instituted to conduct a comprehensive review of over $1 billion of pending capital projects, and re-calibrate where necessary the University’s capital budget to better align funding sources and uses. At the time of the initial announcement, President Skorton specified that the pause would affect:

1. Projects that do not have construction contracts will be put on hold.

2. Projects that are in design will be permitted to complete that phase of work they are in and then will be put on hold.

3. Projects where no design contract has been let will be held for review and prioritization.

4. All physical infrastructure projects that have not been initiated will be put on hold.

5. All information technology capital investment projects that have not been initiated will be put on hold.

6. Local transportation and housing projects that have not been initiated will be put on hold.

As a result of the foregoing, the pause affects all capital projects, except those already under construction at the time of the announcement or for which state funding has been provided. The list of projects affected by the pause include Misltein Hall as well as the Humanities Building, Gates Hall and Olin Library and many more projects, too numerous to name here. The pause has been since extended until the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2009.

Once the review of each project is thoroughly completed, President Skorton will consider a recommendation to proceed on a given capital project, provided that the following two conditions are met: A capital project must be deemed critical to either the mission of the University or the life and safety of the campus community, and it must have an approved funding plan with the appropriate resources identified and available.

At this time, my office is conducting the review of all capital projects and will report to the president in due course.

Stephen Golding

Executive Vice President