Ceiling Elevated On Contract Awards

Washington State University administrators on Friday were given permission to award contracts worth as much as $1 million without prior approval of the regents.

Noting that they have reduced the number of times they meet each year, the regents approved raising the ceiling on the value of construction, consulting, architectural and engineering contracts administrators can award.

WSU President Sam Smith said some projects that exceeded the previous $500,000 limit have been put on hold pending regents’ approval.

“This gives us the opportunity to move more expediently,” Smith said.

The policy change also means WSU administrators can dispose of property worth as much as $500,000 without regents’ approval. The old limit was $200,000.

In other matters, the regents elected Phyllis J. Campbell of Issaquah, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Bank, as board president, effective in May. She succeeds Richard Davis of Spokane, who remains a board member.John Ellis, chairman and CEO of the Seattle Mariners, was elected vice president.