In state funding requests, U of M stresses the basics

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler is stressing the basics as he makes a pitch for $236 million in capital improvement funding from the Legislature.

Gov. Mark Dayton has already recommended $153 million for university facilities and buildings in his proposed bonding bill. In a press conference Monday morning, Kaler called that a good starting position.

"We'll be working hard with legislatures on both sides of the aisle to gain full support for our request," Kaler said.

Nearly half the money the university wants will go toward the Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement, or HEAPR, a project that aims to repair and maintain the university's buildings and facilities.

"Fully funding our $100 million HEAPR request, which includes 95 different and urgent priorities, is my number one priority in our capital request," Kaler said.

The university is planning to expand its medical school and also convert outdated spaces into technology-rich classrooms.

Kaler said they are also requesting nearly $40 million in supplemental funds targeted for specific areas, such as a one-time cost of $19 million for upgrading the school's cyber security.