ANNAPOLIS —The university’s share of the state’s construction budget could likely include several academic projects that administrators requested but were not originally funded – including money for an addition to Van Munching Hall and new journalism and physics buildings.

It also likely will not include funds Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) earmarked for improving drainage at the university golf course, a project that drew criticism as it was not a request of the administration.

Ehrlich’s capital budget included two academic projects – $2.3 million for equipment to complete the biosciences research building and $1.5 million in planning funds for renovations of Tawes Fine Arts Building, slated to house the English department. Nonpartisan budget analysts supported funding the projects last week.

The senators added $5.9 million for the Van Munching addition, $1 million to begin planning the physical sciences complex and $500,000 to begin planning the journalism building. They also included language showing “intent” to provide the rest of the funds for the journalism project in next year’s capital budget.

Vice President for Administrative Affairs John Porcari said he was pleased the projects were added, and credited intensive lobbying on the part of the University System of Maryland and university administrators. He said the physical science complex was an unexpected addition.

The journalism and Van Munching projects also rely heavily on private donations, so it is a priority to get the state to cover the remaining costs soon, he said.

“We were hoping journalism and Van Munching would be restored. … It’s good to see,” Porcari said. “We were raising funds with the expectation and the understanding the projects would be in the capital [budget.]”

The Van Munching project is a $16 million venture, including the $5.9 coming from the state, Porcari said.

Of the estimated $26 million needed for the journalism building, $5 million is coming from private donors – also a “very substantial donor component,” he said.

The capital budget is moving through the legislature at a faster than usual pace and could be finalized well before this year’s legislative session ends April 10. After the governor proposes it, the legislature wields significant power in its ability to rearrange funds and add in new projects – something it can’t do with the operating budget, which funds academic aspects of the university. The governor then has power to line-item veto the capital budget.

In the university’s hearings in the General Assembly this spring, legislators such as Sen. Patrick Hogan (D-Montgomery) have shown concern for the status of campus facilities after touring the Physics Building, where an electrical fire killed university electrician Kurt Tassche in 2002.

But others, such as Del. Frank Turner (D-Howard), have criticized administrators for their construction requests, saying they are overstated and the campus already has new state-of-the-art facilities in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and Comcast Center.

University President Dan Mote stressed to legislators those projects relied heavily on private donations.

Porcari said it’s not clear what will happen with the golf course project. Ehrlich had funded it at $145,000 next year, with a total of $1.5 million expected over two years.

The Tawes project has been scheduled to house the English department for 15 years. The department moved into Susquehanna Hall – meant to be temporary surge space – in 1990.

Contact reporter Scott Dance at dancedbk@gmail.com.