The Board of Trustees’ call to approve Central Michigan University’s medical school project during its meeting Thursday was arranged last minute.

Director of Media Relations Steve Smith said a request for University President Michael Rao’s presentation was made during an ad hoc committee meeting Wednesday afternoon, the details of which were finalized the morning prior to the event.

The medical school was not on the Board’s formal agenda, but it was discussed during “Other/New Business” at the end of the meeting.

“It was an eleventh hour decision,” he said. “Literally, everything was coming together the night before.”

The report, Smith said, was an overview of what has transpired in the last 18 months in terms of negotiations and has been widely transparent the entire time.

It publicized CMU’s pursuit of clinical affiliations off campus for the future program’s second two years of clinical research, a timeline in coming years to establish its first incoming class and the $1.5 million design of an additional wing planned for the Health Professions Building.

Steve Berkshire, Health Administration director, said Rao held a meeting Aug. 21 with the College of Health Professions faculty regarding the medical school plan, having no reason to believe the Board would not discuss the project in either of its two meetings this semester.

“That was the impression I had … that they were getting ready to make a final proposal,” he said. “It’ll obviously help the community in the northern part of the state. I’m pleased in the direction they’re thinking of going.”

Berkshire said he came in July having already heard of CMU’s ongoing negotiations for the medical school.

Many HP faculty members expect to play at least an indirect research and instructional role when medical facilities are officially established on campus, he said.

“Our assumption is that we’d have some relationship with the medical school,” Berkshire said. “Then from our perspective … I would imagine we’d get (new faculty) to be involved.”

The specifications of Rao’s report were similar to those released to HP faculty in August, he said, including project funds and program accreditation, but were not as particular with hiring clinical faculty and student housing.

“There are some funds earmarked for construction projects and will be utilized,” Smith said. “We don’t have a campaign per se to go out and raise funds.”

Carol Haas, director of Financial Planning and Budgets, said the funds for the project, specifically for the construction of the HP building, will be ones allocated, saved and used in a reserve fund for the university. She said, though, that is not its only function.

“These are funds we’ve been setting aside for new buildings and new construction,” she said. “Those funds are set aside in case of a catastrophic loss or (lack) in appropriations.”

Smith said in addition to the reserved funds, which will be paid back through the school’s tuition payments, there will also be an amount privately donated going mostly to the construction of a new wing off the HP Building.

CMU’s pursuit last spring with the Michigan legislature for capital funding to build a bio-technology building is not included in the plan at this time, Smith said, though it might be eventually added if circumstances change in Lansing.

“It’s anticipated that the construction will cost somewhere in the vicinity of $15 million,” he said. “I know it’s our desire to build a bio-tech building.”

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E-mail the author: Jackie Smith