Deferred Maintenance

KU is cited in national publications as having one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. Its historic limestone buildings house classrooms and research facilities that help attract Kansans and students from across the United States and the world.

Unfortunately, the beauty belies a serious issue – some of KU’s buildings have critical infrastructure problems. The average age of a KU education/research building is 46 years, with many facilities being even older than that. The years have taken their toll: old utility tunnels underneath campus need repairs, the wiring in many buildings is past its operational life, and sidewalks and masonry have deteriorated in Kansas’ variable climate.

KU has a dedicated staff of maintenance personnel who work every day to maintain a safe and attractive campus. But until recently, KU only received $4 million a year from the State of Kansas to conduct this vital maintenance. This was supplemented in 2006 when the Legislature allowed KU to start keeping interest earned on tuition, rather than having to send it to the State General Fund.

A first step towards addressing the maintenance backlog was taken in 2007, and KU thanks Governor Sebelius and the Kansas Legislature for their support of an initial plan to provide additional resources to tackle deferred maintenance. The plan approved in 2007 provides an additional $6 million per year on average over the next five years for the Lawrence Campus backlog of deferred maintenance.

This is in addition to the program starting July 1 that will provide tax benefits to Kansans who donate to deferred maintenance projects, an opportunity KU will promote to all of its supporters.

We are grateful for the additional resources, and will work closely with legislators and the Board of Regents to ensure accountability is maintained and opportunities for legislative oversight are provided.

The five year plan, together with the aforementioned $4 million in regular funding, will slow the rate of increase in the repair backlog, but it won’t halt it. The sheer size of KU’s physical plant – with roughly 150 buildings, adding up to a total value of more than $1 billion – means even with the extra infusion of resources, the deferred maintenance backlog will increase by $20 million per year over the next five years.

The maintenance needs are varied:

• A roof typically has a life expectancy of 20 years. To adequately maintain roofs on a 20 year cycle means KU needs to replace 7.5 roofs per year. With the current level of funding support between one to four roof replacements are funded annually.
• The masonry on a building typically has a life expectancy of 30 years before requiring major maintenance. To adequately maintain masonry on a 30 year cycle means KU needs to be repairing five buildings per year. With the current level of funding support only one to two buildings are repaired annually.
• An air conditioning unit typically has a life expectancy of 25 years. To adequately maintain the chillers on a 25 year cycle means the University needs to replace six chillers per year. With the current level of funding support only one to two chillers are replaced annually.
• And these are only examples of maintenance we know will need to take place – they don’t account for unexpected maintenance and replacement of everything from wiring, to heating and cooling systems, to staircases and masonry.

The increased commitment made by the State last year is a good first step, but as Governor Sebelius stated at the time it is only a first step. KU is a vital state institution and its leaders will continue to work with Governor Sebelius and legislators to continue the process of ensuring its beauty and safety aren’t compromised.