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NSF PR 96-64 - October 28, 1996
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Federal Support Declines for University R&D Facilities
The nation's top universities are postponing construction
of new science and engineering (S&E) research
facilities. Instead they are spending funds to shore
up existing facilities -- even as they report decreasing
S&E building space on their campuses.
These are among overall findings in a new National
Science Foundation report, Scientific and Engineering
Facilities at Universities and Colleges, 1996.
The biennial report synthesizes data on space available
for S&E research in U.S. colleges and universities,
adequacy and condition of this space, construction
and repair, funding sources and S&E research facility
needs.
Federal contributions to S&E facility construction
declined in constant dollars from $541 million in
1990-91 to $207 million in 1994-95. In this same period,
funding from state governments and contributions from
the institutions themselves remained steady, but private-sector
support declined.
"This large decline in Federal support for construction
should be watched over the coming years to see if
it is a trend," cautions Ann Lanier, the report's
project director.
Among the findings in the NSF report:
- At least half the research institutions reported
inadequate amounts of research space in biological
sciences, physical sciences, engineering,
agricultural sciences, and medical sciences.
- In 1996, 18 percent of S&E research space
at research institutions needed major renovation
or replacement -- about 24.5 million usable
square feet.
- Expenditures for repair or renovation increased
from $905 million in 1992-93 to $1.1 billion
in 1994-95, an increase of 17 percent in constant
dollars. These projects were primarily funded
through institutional funds.
- In fiscal years 1994-95, research colleges
and universities began S&E research construction
projects costing $2.8 billion, representing
a continued decline in the construction of
S&E research space. That figure was $3.0
billion in 1992-93, and $3.4 billion in 1990-91.
- Academic institutions in 1996 deferred $7.4
billion in S&E research construction and
repair projects due to lack of funds.
- These trends were similar at Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCU). In 1996,
half the HBCUs reported inadequate S&E
research space in engineering and the biological
sciences outside of medical schools. The amount
spent to construct S&E research space
at research HBCUs declined from $37.6 million
in 1992 to $21.3 million in 1996 in constant
dollars. They reported $302 million deferred
for S&E capital projects.
This report and other reports on the nation's science
and engineering enterprise are available at: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/stats.htm
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