Overview

     Millersville University's facilities include 76 buildings dispersed over 220 acres in the heart of Millersville Borough. The facilities range from being a century old to new. Included are many former single residences acquired as the campus expanded. The expansion process has produced a campus crisscrossed by public roads, with essentially two academic and residential communities.

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Strengths

     The physical facilities and grounds are very well maintained, and a sense of community pride is evidenced by the presence of little trash or graffiti.

     The campus master plan development process was exemplary. A committee that included faculty from all schools and senior academic leadership provided guidance for academic program adequacy and enhancement; the Millersville Borough manager provided community input; and student, staff and athletic/recreation representatives ensured a balanced land use plan. Four open forums provided additional opportunity for participation by faculty, staff, and students. The final product appears to address many issues raised during the process of development.

     Over the last four years, the campus has spent between 3.3% to 4.7% of estimated replacement costs on annual maintenance and repairs. State capital appropriations have also been supportive of new buildings and renovations during that period.

     Town/Gown relationships appear to be excellent. As noted above, the borough Manager sat on the campus master plan committee, and the borough included the University's Vice President for Finance and Administration on its Planning committee.

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Concerns

     The residential life facilities are in need of major renovations. A detailed facilities audit has identified the need for improvements totaling $16 million to remedy problems such as electrical load and failing heating/cooling systems. An additional several million is needed for cosmetic improvements and new furniture.

     Recent plans for two projects were begun with an understanding that the projects would be funded by the state; however, the system and the Governor have required new rationale for approval, leaving the campus uncertain how to proceed.

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Suggestions

     The University plans to continue developing new on-campus student housing through its not-for-profit Student Housing Corporation. As noted earlier, the Student Affairs Administration would like to have a presence in these facilities to provide programming on a continuing basis. To these ends, the University might consider an arrangement codified by a ground lease of its property to a third party, with covenants to control use, reversion to the campus of the buildings on bond indebtedness, and provision of operating funds derived from rents to provide student life programming.

     The System should work with the Governor and State Legislature to support the implementation of Millersville's capital facilities master plan.

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