The university is seeking money in its capital budget request for the Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville after the governor’s proposed budget did not include USI’s recommendation to fund its part of the med school.

The university requested $7.3 million in funding to construct its portion of the building, which is planned to be 26,000 gross square feet.

In his proposed biennial budget, Gov. Mike Pence recommended $19.2 million for the building, which will assist only the IU School of Medicine’s request, ignoring USI, Ivy Tech and the University of Evansville’s requests.

The proposed budget for the state’s next biennium is now in the House Ways & Means Committee, where lawmakers will make changes to Pence’s proposal before the spending plan is sent to the full House and then to the Senate.

The third floor of USI’s Health Professions Center is currently home to the IU medical school, but the program only allows students to take med school classes for the first two years of their degree. After completing two years at USI, most students complete their degree in Indianapolis.

With the completion of the medical school downtown, students will be able to finish their degree at the same place they start it.

Vice President for Government and University Relations Cynthia Brinker said the project was developed because of the desire to expand IU medical schools throughout the state.

“This will allow the students to stay in Evansville for the full four years instead of going to Indianapolis after two years here,” Brinker said.

With plans to move the medical school, USI has submitted a capital budget request of $8 million to renovate and expand the third floor of the Health Professions Center, which will allow more space for other departments, Brinker said.

The expansion will consist of adding 4,000 gross square feet to the Health Professions Center, which is currently operating at its maximum capacity.

The university proposed using the new and improved space to expand various academic programs like nursing and other health related departments.