Texas A&M University has committed $3.2M to the construction of an addition to the Gulf Coast Repository (GCR) at College Station, contingent upon the continued support of the JOIDES community to ODP/TAMU as Science Operator through the year 2003. The Dean's Office is currently preparing a package to go to the Board of Regents for their formal approval. After approval has been received, a "Program of Requirements" document will be prepared containing the building specifications required by the architect for the expansion. Actual construction of the 15,000-square-foot building is probably at least a year away, with final occupancy projected for late 1998 or early 1999.