Question 4 Higher education bonds. Part of a series on statewide ballot questions

If voters approve Question 4 on Election Day, $72.8 million will pay for two higher-education projects: a new College of Pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island and the renovation of several buildings on the East Campus of Rhode Island College.

URI officials say a new $65-million pharmacy building is badly needed. The college is one of the most competitive at URI, with about 1,000 students competing for just 90 slots in the freshman class. The college generates millions of dollars in research grants and runs 300 education programs for the elderly across the state each year. But the college’s current location in Fogarty Health Science Building is far too small and outdated for today’s needs, says Dean Donald E. Letendre. “It was built for classes of 45 students. We have double that number today,” he said.

The proposed 150,000-square-foot building would allow the college to increase its class size 40 percent — to about 125 students per class in the six-year program — and would include more laboratory and research space. It would be in the north part of the campus, near URI’s new $50-million biotechnology center. The university also hopes to build a new chemistry building and a new nursing school in the same area, creating a life sciences hub.

At RIC, the bond money would finance $7.8 million worth of improvements to three 1950s-era buildings that are now vacant on the college’s East Campus. The renovations would add 30,000 square feet for academic and student and public service needs, including creating a home for the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities. The center provides technical support and services to people with disabilities and their families. Currently the center’s 30 programs are spread over 5 locations at RIC. The new center would bring all the programs together under one roof and allow the programs to expand, said Anthony Antosh, the center’s director. Last year the center served 30,000 disabled people and their families, Antosh said.

The other renovated buildings would house new classrooms and new student services, including a new financial aid office. In addition, the bond money would also improve poorly aligned roads and walkways on RIC’s campus.