$800K spent to revamp California University of Pa. presidents home

Just four months after announcing the elimination of 30 positions because of declining enrollment, California University of Pennsylvania officials revealed the school's newly renovated presidential residence labeled by some on campus as The Palace.

The price for work in the home of interim Cal U President Geraldine Jones was more than $800,000, exclusive of labor and architectural services provided by university staff, according to school records.

University tradesmen did this wonderful work, Jones said as she and her husband, retired Hewlett Packard executive Jeffrey Jones, led a tour of their sprawling, 4,800-square-foot, two-story apartment in historic South Hall.

During the tour, Geraldine Jones adamantly defended the investment.

It is work that is meant to last for decades. This is an asset for the university, the same as when we restored other buildings on campus, Jones said.

But some students on the Washington County campus who have endured tuition and fee increases year after year are not quite as effusive about the yearlong project, which involved thousands of man-hours by four dozen university employees to install a commercial-grade kitchen; crystal doorknobs; an Italian marble entryway with sparkling beveled glass globe lights; a coffered ceiling featuring 196 cuts; and $57,000 worth of draperies for 33 new windows.

Senior environmental science major Samantha Hartman said, It's crazy to put all this money into renovations when we have to pay for printer paper and parking passes.

It's a lot of money for a residence for the president, said Annmarie Hayes, a senior pre-med major.

The head of the school's faculty union said the renovation, although pricey, is preferable to a plan offered during the tenure of former Cal U President Angelo Armenti to construct a new home for the university's leader.

If we're in a search for a new president, upgrading it was probably something that had to be done, said math professor Barbara Hess. You've got to have something attractive during a search, and I hear we're going to be in one very soon.

More:
$800K spent to revamp California University of Pa. presidents home