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The University of Louisville’s new master plan is nothing if not ambitious. For the university to spend $325,000 to develop a plan for spending $1.1 billion, in the middle of a recession and a decade of budget cuts and tuition increases, sounds misguided. In some ways it is; but it’s always good to dream.
U of L’s finances are dire. Most of the costs of budget shortfalls have been passed on to students. Faculty pay is currently frozen, and many positions remain unfilled, due to funding shortfalls.
But as the master plan is implemented, U of L must make a concerted effort to ensure campus doesn’t feel too big. Many students choose U of L because other public universities feel too big. Parking in Lexington is a nightmare, and a walk across campus is a workout. As U of L expands its boundaries, and encourages more students to park at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, it will become less attractive to students looking for a convenient, close-knit campus.
Fifteen years ago, The Louisville Cardinal editorial board shared many of the same concerns. Since then, the Bass-Rudd Tennis Center, Belknap Research Center and more have been built. Those plans were ambitious then, but with dedicated administrators most were completed. Here’s to hoping the new master plan is as successful as the last.
