UA Seeks ABOR Approval for DC Center, Barnes' Contract Extension

By Nick Prevenas, University Communications
June 10, 2019
The UA will ask the Arizona Board of Regents this week to approve plans to lease the fifth floor of this building, at 1301 E. Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. The property will house the UA's proposed Center for Outreach and Collaboration.

The UA will ask the Arizona Board of Regents this week to approve plans to lease the fifth floor of this building, at 1301 E. Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. The property will house the UA's proposed Center for Outreach and Collaboration.

The University of Arizona is seeking approval from the Arizona Board of Regents to expand Wildcat Country into the nation's capital.

The UA will outline its plans for the Washington, D.C., Center for Outreach and Collaboration at this week's ABOR meeting at Northern Arizona University.

The regents will be asked to approve an 11-year lease of space at 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, a privately owned, newly constructed, LEED Gold building within walking distance of Capitol Hill, the White House and various federal agency headquarters.

The center will serve as the UA's front door in Washington, where University leaders will welcome elected officials, policymakers, influencers and community stakeholders to enhance the visibility, reputation and knowledge development taking place at the UA.

Among the UA programs that will be housed there are the federal relations office, the National Institute for Civil Discourse, subject matter experts from the University's Research, Discovery and Innovation office and the soon-to-be created Semester in Washington Presidential Fellowship Program. The University plans to establish a "UA in DC" events program to establish a seamless connection between the UA's groundbreaking education and research with policymaking and grant opportunities available in Washington, D.C.

Pending approval, the lease would begin Feb. 1, 2020, with an option for a 10-year extension of the lease term.

ABOR's Finance, Capital and Resources Committee reviewed the item at its May 30 meeting and recommended forwarding to the full board for approval.

The UA also will seek to extend the contract of women's basketball head coach Adia Barnes. The proposed three-year extension would take Barnes' contract through the end of the 2024 season.

Barnes was named head coach prior to the 2016-17 season. She led the Wildcats to a 24-13 record and the Women's National Invitation Tournament championship in 2019.

Also on the agenda (PDF):

  • The UA is looking to add three new academic programs for the upcoming academic year: a Master of Science in biosystems analytics and technology, a Ph.D. program in biosystems analytics and technology, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in organizational leadership and regional commerce. The University is also requesting approval to create two new academic units in the College of Medicine – Tucson: a Department of Urology and a Department of Neurosurgery.
  • The UA, NAU and Arizona State University will seek ABOR approval of their fiscal year 2020 budgets.

 

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