Fire Safety Issues, Deteriorating Physical Conditions, and Limited Funding Affect Many Buildings on Southern University Baton Rouge Campus

Numerous buildings on the Southern University Baton Rouge (SUBR) campus have deficiencies ranging from fire code violations to non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to roof leaks, water damage, mold concerns, and inadequate plumbing, the Legislative Auditor said in an informational report released today.

Southern University Baton Rouge encompasses Southern University and A&M College, Southern University Law Center, and Southern University Agriculture Center. The purpose of the report, the state auditor said, was to evaluate the condition of the Baton Rouge campus, identify any issues that could affect the health and welfare of students, faculty, staff, and visitors, and analyze funding and expenditures for building repair and maintenance.

Twenty-one buildings have been cited by the Office of the State Fire Marshal for Life Safety Code deficiencies – some of them repeatedly over several years. The deficiencies include exit issues, combustible items in corridors, smoke and heat detectors, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, and fire extinguishers. In addition, three buildings do not meet ADA standards for accessibility, among them A.W. Mumford Stadium.

Other buildings have deteriorating physical conditions. Two buildings have plumbing infrastructure issues, three buildings have sustained water damage and potentially could have mold problems, and 18 buildings have roof leaks, including the Southern Museum of Art.

SUBR has received limited funding for repairs and maintenance from capital outlay appropriations, federal Higher Education Disaster Relief funds, and general appropriations. In fiscal year 2014, the campus asked for about $13 million to pay for 26 capital outlay projects involving repairs and maintenance. It received $1.2 million, which funded one project. In fiscal year 2015, the campus requested $8.8 million to pay for 15 projects and received $3.6 million, which funded two projects.

In their response, SUBR officials said they were aware of the deficiencies and had made numerous and repeated requests since 2005 for money to pay for repairs and maintenance. University officials said they would continue to monitor the deficiencies and work toward correcting them, as well as continue their efforts to obtain needed funding.