II. Future Resource Needs
Numerous costs are associated with UCI’s goal to enhance its standing among the best comprehensive research universities in the country by 2015. Faculty of the highest quality will be required to provide the research and teaching that constitute UCI’s outstanding educational programs. Additional staff to support research and teaching will be needed in increasing numbers. Much will be required in the way of increased campus infrastructure, including library holdings, information access, maintenance of space, campus life and cocurricular activities. In order to attract the number and quality of undergraduate, graduate and graduate professional students in UCI’s vision, significant funding will be required to provide fellowships, scholarships and other student support. Funding for research start-up packages will be required to attract the large number of faculty who will provide cutting-edge research. The establishment of additional endowed chairs also will serve to attract the faculty that will enhance the intellectual excitement of the campus. The best faculty and students will be attracted to UCI because the campus will provide state-of-the-art facilities for living and working.
Revenues from a variety of funding sources will be required to support the ambitious goals of the campus. State funds will be provided to support enrollment growth. Student fee income will be generated from the increased enrollment. Other core support funds will be necessary to support the maintenance of new space, start-up packages, improvements to the student-to-faculty ratio, instructional technology, instructional equipment, library collections and ongoing building maintenance. A continued agreement between the state and the University of California relative to improved levels of funding will be required to support the needs of the campus. Government and private organizations will continue to fund research at an increasing rate. Increased funding will be available from various extramural sources to provide increased graduate student support. Reimbursement for costs incurred in carrying out the campus’s research activities (overhead recovery) will provide funding to support a wide variety of needs. Self-supporting program revenues will be generated in sufficient amounts to cover operating costs and the addition of a variety of facilities to support a quality of life unequaled at other top-ranked universities. Funding needed to support the total capital plan is estimated to be approximately $2.8 billion.
A significant portion of the capital needed to support the teaching and research functions of the campus will be provided through the normal state-funded capital improvement program. These funds will be received over a period of five years beyond 2015-16, consistent with the usual delay between enrollment and capital funding. Additional funding for capital needs will come from federal and campus sources and through access to external financing. A major fundraising campaign could help cover the expected shortfall in general revenues and would augment other forms of support from the state and other sources described here.
