Senate Passes Bill
On Tuesday the Senate Higher Education Committee will pass out of committee their biennial funding bill. Their target for all of higher education, that is new money above the current base, is $296 million. The University/Mayo partnership dollars will be funded in a separate bill with one time funding so as not to compete with the higher education dollars. The House is not expected to release their target numbers for another week or so.
The House Capital Investment Committee will hear the Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority legislation on Thursday.
The President and other administrators continue to meet with legislators to answer questions and make the case for the University. In addition the Alumni Association and University Relations has put together an ambitious agenda of rotary club tours. The theme of the tour is "Creating Minnesota's Future: How the University Impacts Minnesota". Throughout February, March and April, we are bringing leading educators, researchers and administrators out into the community to talk about how specific research, education and outreach that happens at the U benefits all Minnesotans. We’ve visited Virginia and have rotary visits scheduled for Marshall, New Ulm, Grand Rapids, Mankato, Willmar, Red Wing, and Stillwater. This tour is a great way to educate Minnesotans, build support for the University throughout the state, and help make the ask for state funding.
If you have not yet contacted your state representative or state senator, please do so. Contacts from constituents are the most important communications that legislators receive.
