education

The College of Education Building dates back to 1969. But time and the elements have taken their toll on the place. Cracks, leaks, lack of insulation and old asbestoscontaining building materials must be remedied. The building was constructed during a time when the use of asbestos as an insulation and construction material was common. As more was learned about the dangers of asbestos, the building became, in essence, unrepairable. Any work on the building such as roof repair or window replacement or even minimal, but critical, improvements like adding power outlets for the increasing adoption of technology, was deferred due to the complexity, dangers and cost of ridding the facility of asbestos. Simultaneously, the exterior’s stacked rock and plaster panels, which make up the outside surface of the five-story building, have been separating from the steel posts to which they are attached, exposing cracks in the joints of the windows. This deterioration and the weight of the panels have resulted in leaks at nearly every window and between every floor, none of which is repairable without extensive and cost-prohibitive asbestos abatement.

Major renovation is slated to begin in July. Completion is expected by June 2016. Renovation will require relocation of College of Education offices: see page 15 for details.

State funding of $7 million will help with the cost of replacing the building’s exterior, asbestos abatement and renovation.

Please consider a gift to the College of Education Building Renovation Project on behalf of Idaho teachers. Every UI education graduate will touch hundreds if not thousands of lives over the course of a teaching or movement sciences career.

The university has secured bonding for an additional $7.5 million in improvements.

However, private support is needed to cover the cost of furnishings, of adding the latest technology and improving the five-story building’s student collaboration spaces.

“The Vandal family has the opportunity to turn what could be an education building that is ‘good enough’ into a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility that the entire university can use and take pride in,” said Cori Mantle-Bromley, dean of the College of Education.

Initial support for that portion of the project is promising: More than half of the $5 million goal for private support is in hand. That includes a recent $1 million gift from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson

Foundation, Inc., a strong supporter of the college, as well as generous support from longtime donor Thomas C. Wright, and other alumni and friends.

Every dollar raised for the building will go to key features, upgrades, finishes and furnishings that will turn the building into a source of pride for the university and more importantly, a source of quality education for students in COE.

Please consider a gift on behalf of Idaho teachers. Every UI education graduate will touch hundreds if not thousands of lives over the course of a teaching or movement sciences career. For information on giving, contact Tammey Boston at 208-885-7476 or boston@uidaho.edu.

For information on giving, contact Tammey Boston at 208-885-7476 or boston@uidaho.edu. Or go to www.uidaho.edu/inspire-edbuilding