At its monthly meeting on Thursday, the University’s Board of Regents is set to consider moving forward on construction project without city funds that would typically receive financial support from the city.

The project to the Central Campus Transit Center includes resurfacing North University Avenue between Church Street and Fletcher Street, adding bike lanes, reducing the number of motor vehicle lanes to one in each direction and providing new bus shelters.

While resurfacing North University Avenue, upgrades to the water main under the street would also be made to improve fire protection to nearby buildings.

The project would also incorporate revisions to the flow of pedestrian traffic and would create an accessible entrance on the west side of the Ruthven Museum.

The project is estimated to cost $4.5 million and will, if approved, be funded by the University and through federal funds.

In a letter to the regents, Tim Slottow, executive vice president and chief financial officer, wrote that often a project of this nature would be shared with the city, but that the city is not able to allocate funding quickly enough to take advantage of the federal funds available for the project.

Museum Renovation and Collection Relocation

The regents are also set to consider a $17.6 million project that would pay for a 46,000-square-foot renovation to the Varsity Drive Building. Upon completion of the building’s partial renovation, the Museum of Zoology’s “wet” collection will be moved to the site for storage and it will be available for the University community to access.

The project will also renovate part of the Alexander G. Ruthven Museums Building.

Construction for both projects is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2012 and will be paid for through the University’s investment income.

If regents approve the recommendation submitted by Timothy Slottow, executive vice president and chief financial officer, the project will be issued for bids and will be able to be awarded, provided the winning bid is within the approved budget.

Update on 'U' Reaccreditation

Though no action will be required on the topic, the regents will also hear an update on the University’s re-accreditation process. The University must complete the re-accreditation process every 10 years in order to qualify for federal aid. The last re-accreditation process was completed in 2000.

As part of the process, the University completed a self-study report that focused on the five topic areas required by the Higher Learning Commission — the University’s mission, its preparedness for the future, the in-class experience, out of classroom engagement and application of knowledge.

The HLC gives those schools, which will likely be reaccredited the opportunity to do an additional study on a special topic of their choosing. Because the University falls into this category, University officials conducted a study on internationalism at the University.

The process will conclude later this year, when a 13-person team from the HLC visits campus from Mar. 15-17 to interview top administrators and other representatives from the University.