New positions requested, fiscal year 1967-Continued Operations and maintenance: Ground foreman.. Security man_. Total (2) Auxiliary services: Nurse (1).. $7, 250 4, 660 11, 910 4, 145 89, 015 GALLAUDET COLLEGE, CONSTRUCTION Total new positions, all activities (14)---- APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE "GALLAUDET COLLEGE, CONSTRUCTION "For construction, alteration, renovation, equipment, and improvement of buildings and facilities on the grounds of Gallaudet College, as authorized by the Act of June 18, 1954 (Public Law 420), under the supervision, if so requested by the College, of the General Services Administration, including planning, architectural, and engineering services, [$384,000] $50,000, to remain available until expended." The Gallaudet College construction program began in 1956 and consisted of a multiple stage program for the expansion of the physical plant to accommodate the increasing student body and to provide more modern and adequate facilities for all phases of college activities. Between 1956 and 1964 over $14 million was appropriated to the college for renovation and repair of existing buildings, landscaping, and for new construction. The 1965 appropriation of $367,000 provided for repair, alteration and renovation, for air conditioning the library and student union buildings, for the erection of a new fence around the college campus, for outside services, and for equipment for the addition to the hearing and speech center. The 1966 appropriation provides $384,000 for planning funds for additions to the classroom building and library, for continued repair and renovation, and furnishings and equipment for the new arts building and speech and hearing center. The estimate for fiscal year 1967 provides for the continuation of the program of renovation and improvements in the amount of $50,000. JUSTIFICATION The estimate for fiscal year 1967 provides $50,000 for the following renovation and repair projects: A. Repairs to roof, College Hall.—Most of the slate roof and supporting rafters of College Hall, which houses the men's dormitory and business management offices, have deteriorated to the point that repair and replacement of same is urgently needed. The cost of replacement is approximately $20,000. B. Roof repairs and waterproofing, Hall Memorial Building. The roof of Hall Memorial Building, also known as the classroom-laboratory building, is in need of extensive repairs. Included is better waterproofing and tightening of the biology department's greenhouse located on the roof of this building. Approximate cost is $10,000. C. Road repairs.-Approximately one-fifth of the roads on campus have been damaged and extensive repairs are required. These roads, not being constructed for heavy vehicles, were damaged by continuous flow of trucks and heavy construction equipment serving five major projects under construction since the new roads were built approximately 6 years ago. These road repairs are estimated to cost $20,000. Senator HILL. Dr. Elstad is the next witness. Will you please submit your prepared statement for the record at this point? Mr. ELSTAD. Yes, sir. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF GALLAUDET COLLEGE Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this committee, and to present the financial requests of Gallaudet College for the fiscal year 1967. FEDERAL SUPPORT OF GALLAUDET COLLEGE As is generally known, Gallaudet College is the only institution in the country designed to offer a higher education for deaf students in the liberal arts and sciences. The college was chartered by the Congress in 1864. Under the provisions of Public Law 420, in the 83d Congress, the college is established as a private corporation, governed by a board of directors, with representation from the executive and congressional branches of Government. Financial support by the Federal Government has sustained the college through the past 102 years, and has made possible the rapid expansion and many improvements shown in recent years. Federal funds, which constitute about two-thirds of the college's income for operating expenses, have increased almost fivefold in the past 10 years. In addition, more than $15 million in construction funds have been appropriated by the Congress in order to expand and modernize Gallaudet's plant and facilities. It is important to note that the college's accreditation in 1957, and its subsequent growth in size and in reputation, would not have been attained without the interest of the Congress and of the executive branch. The college is scheduled for reevaluation by its accrediting association in the spring of 1967. SERVICE AND RESEARCH Although the principal activity of the college is its undergraduate education, its reputation and its faculty have attracted such support from outside agencies that it is now in a position to render substantial assistance to the education of the deaf generally. It is common knowledge that the schools for the deaf have not kept pace with the public educational systems in preparing young people for the increasingly complex demands of American society. Gallaudet College is finally reaching the point where it can contribute significantly to the upgrading of elementary and secondary education for the deaf. During the approaching summer, as in the past summer, Gallaudet will offer four institutes for teachers in schools and classes for the deaf. The National Science Foundation is underwriting institutes in the teaching of mathematics and science; the Office of Education is supporting institutes for school librarians and for teachers of reading. In addition, the Office of Education is supporting a long-term project for the development of an English curriculum for deaf children. Gallaudet's graduate school is the first in the Nation to give teachers of the deaf a specialized education in the fields in which they will be teaching. Research activity at Gallaudet is funded by various agencies: the Office of Education, the National Science Foundation, the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration, various branches of the Public Health Service, and the American Chemical Society. Ten projects sponsored by these agencies are listed as current, all of them of potential value to those concerned with deafness and the education of the deaf. SALARIES AND EXPENSES Operating expenses of the college totalling $3,419,000 including $24,000 supplemental appropriation under separate transmittal during fiscal year 1966 are expected to increase to $3,784,000 in fiscal year 1967, an addition of 11 percent or $365,000 of which $184,000 is requested from Congress and the balance of $181,000 to be secured from reimbursements. The proposed increase will be used to finance additional instructional staff, and extension of auxiliary and maintenance services needed to accommodate a larger enrollment. Funds are requested for the annual salary increases provided by the college's faculty salary schedule, for nonfaculty personnel, and for the increasing cost of utilities. As recommended by the Secretary's Advisory Committee on the Education of the Deaf, the orientation program for new teachers of the deaf and the development of the master plan are also part the total requested. The estimate for fiscal year 1967 anticipates an increase of $150 in the tuition rate (from $350 to $500 per year) for graduate and undergraduate students. The amount of increase, in addition to the increased cost of instruction, is the result of a comparison of graduate and undergraduate charges made by State supported institutions offering training which compares with that offered by Gallaudet College with emphasis on specialized training. CONSTRUCTION With respect to funds requested under the construction appropriation, the amount of $50,000 will not provide for any new construction or planning of new buildings on the campus, but will allow funds to repair and replace portions of roofs of two buildings and repair of campus roadways damaged by heavy construction vehicles. We are doing everything possible to expedite construction presently authorized, and are preparing to meet the demands of growth in the years ahead. A vice president for long-range planning has been added to our staff. Funds are requested in the "Salaries and expenses" budget to provide him with consultation services so that a new master plan for the college may be completed in the near future. SUMMARY In summary, Mr. Chairman, the Gallaudet College budget request for fiscal year 1967 represents (1) continuing college costs with larger enrollment, (2) recognition of the quality and effectiveness of the faculty, and (3) emphasis upon planning for continued growth. This continues the Federal Government's policy for insuring that deaf youths should be afforded the fullest opportunity to develop their intellectual capacities at an educational institution particularly suited to their needs. SOURCE OF FUNDS Senator HILL. Now you may proceed in your own way. Mr. ELSTAD. We are asking for an appropriation of $3,784,000. Mr. ELSTAD. Yes; $184,000 of the increase over the current fiscal year is requested from Congress. The balance of $181,000 is to be secured from reimbursements. There is only $50,000 in the construction budget which is mainly for repairs and replacements of damaged parts of the various buildings. Senator HILL. I note in fiscal 1964 the Congress provided $144,000 for planning for a new college dormitory, did it not? Mr. ELSTAD. That is right. AMOUNT DISALLOWED Senator HILL. I note the Department disallowed your budget request for, among other things, construction funds in the amount of $1,356,000 for another dormitory; is that right? Mr. ELSTAD. That is right. Senator HILL. They also disallowed your request for $1 million for construction of a laboratory addition to the classroom. Is that correct? Mr. ELSTAD. That is correct. Senator HILL. It also disallowed your request for $585,000 for addition to the library. There is quite a difference between what you requested and what you contemplate for the school and what the Department and the budget comtemplate; is that right? Mr. ELSTAD. That is right. REQUESTS FOR CONSTRUCTION Senator HILL. Tell us, frankly, about these requests for construction that I referred to. Mr. ELSTAD. I would assume that the reason these were disallowed was because of the study which was made, which suggested that demonstration programs for deaf students be conducted at various colleges and universities; and then perhaps they thought that the NTID now being planned might cut into our enrollment. Also, it might be well to wait for the report of the vice president for long-range planning who is on our staff now and who is projecting the enrollments for the next 5 years and the next 10 years. This report is ready for the Department so when we meet with them the next time we can give them what we think are accurate figures for enrollments in the next 5 to 10 years. Senator HILL. The report will be ready in 1 week for the Department. When will that meeting be? NEED OF HOUSING FOR STUDENTS Mr. ELSTAD. I would hope very soon. This material is ready and it is pertinent to appropriation requests. We are going to be hard put to house students a year from this fall. It takes almost 2 years after you get the money to construct the building so we may have to go back to using old residences for dormitory purposes again. We had 600 take examinations last week all over the United States. Of that group, we would estimate 300 would qualify for entrance in the fall and we have to house that group. We have a graduating class of 130, leaving a potential net increase of approximately 170 students who would fill our dormitory rooms as now constituted unless we get help on this in the next year or two, we are going to be unable to house the students who qualify. ENROLLMENT Senator HILL. What is your total enrollment today? Mr. ELSTAD. We enrolled 825 students this fall and we anticipate an enrollment around 900 next fall. Senator HILL. In September? Mr. ELSTAD. That is right. Senator HILL. You will not have the dormitory space? Mr. ELSTAD. We will next fall. Senator HILL. But a year or two from now you will not? Mr. ELSTAD. Not unless the money is released for the planning of the third dormitory. It takes about a half year to plan it and a year and a half to build it, so by 1968 we would not have any accommodations for new students. REPORT TO BOARD Senator HILL. Who is making this report? Mr. ELSTAD. Dr. Orin Cornett who was put on our payroll about 6 months ago for long-range planning for Gallaudet College. He has prepared and presented his report to the board. We think his projections are accurate and can be relied upon. Senator HILL. To follow his recommendations, you have to have more money than is appropriated this year. Is that correct? |