SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University will see major work on several of its facilities in the coming months now that a quartet of projects expected to cost nearly $20 million was approved by state officials.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has approved $19.6 million in bond financing for the projects, which include work at the Spotts World Culture Building, the Strain Behavioral Science Building and Bailey Library and informational technology network infrastructure equipment upgrades.

Construction renovating about 22,000 square feet on the second and third floors of the Spotts building already is under way. The project also will repair the building’s south wall, replace windows, upgrade restrooms and the Global Engagement offices, and renovate 3,200 square feet of classroom space on the first floor.

Renovations at Strain, which was built in 1938, will address a backlog of deferred maintenance issues as well as reconfiguring specialized lab spaces and add 2,000 square feet to meet academic programs’ space requirements.

The Bailey Library project will update study spaces, upgrade the building’s heating and air conditioning system, replace windows, renovate restrooms and make other modifications to entrances and exits.

Planning for the Strain and Bailey Library projects is ongoing, with construction expected to begin in the next six months.

The IT upgrades included in the bond issue will cover a variety of networking equipment to be replaced in July.

“Use of this equipment is critical in regards to teaching classes and administrative functions of the university,” said Amir Mohammadi, SRU vice president of finance.

The projects will be paid for using various sources of funds, including Key ’93, academic enhancement fees and the technology tuition fee, said Mohammadi.

He said the impact to the university’s debt ratio would be minimal.

“I am proud to say that with the acquisition of these new bonds, and the retirement of previous bonds, SRU has one of the lowest debt ratios when compared to many other institutions of higher education,” Mohammadi said.