UMAA President: Shelter from the Storm
By Andrea Hjelm, B.S. '65
While visiting my mother’s native Ukraine over the Thanksgiving holiday, I witnessed firsthand the sheer power of individuals when they join together with their neighbors. We were in the city of Lviv, south of Kiev, on election day, and staggering numbers of people converged peacefully in the city’s center to vote. And when the election results were announced, overwhelming numbers again gathered—peacefully yet resolutely—to demand that their voices be heard. This historic moment was a reminder that, united under a common cause, individuals can make a difference.
With that lesson in mind, I’ve turned my attention to the University’s budgetary challenges and how we, as a community, have the power to fight for the U’s needs. As the start of the next legislative session draws near, the University of Minnesota Legislative Network is preparing for a “perfect storm” that threatens the University on three fronts. Here’s what looms on the horizon:
First, the legislature will consider the University’s biennial budget request. This sum affects the U’s general funding, faculty and staff salaries, and tuition, which has increased almost 65 percent in four years. According to the Legislative Network, the portion of U funds that come from the state has dropped from 35 percent in 1970 to 25 percent in 2004. Meanwhile, the percentage of revenues from tuition and fees has risen from 10 percent to 20 percent. If this trend continues, the U will no longer be accessible to so many outstanding students, who already are being forced to carry an increasingly hefty portion of what used to be the state’s financial commitment to the University.
Next is the bonding bill, which the legislature failed to pass last session. The bonding bill would provide the funds necessary to make essential improvements to University facilities: repairing leaky roofs, fixing broken doors and windows, and addressing health and safety concerns. The cost of waiting is steep: Inflation already has added $8 million to the proposal that’s been on the table since last session. If we let them go another year, the U’s aging buildings will require more and more expensive maintenance in the near future. Without investment in maintaining and restoring its facilities, the U’s ability to be competitive and to attract top faculty, students, and funding is compromised.
Finally, in our nation’s capitol, Congress will continue to debate the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, a law that authorizes most federal student-loan programs. If the results of the reauthorization are unfavorable, our students’ access to financial aid could be significantly diminished, exacerbating the University’s funding challenges.
The good news is that you have the power to help the University weather this approaching storm. Start by attending the U’s annual Legislative Briefing, which takes place on January 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the McNamara Alumni Center. You’ll learn more about the University’s biennial budget and bonding bill requests and how you can become an influential citizen lobbyist, helping shape policy that favors your alma mater.
You might find it hard to believe, but you can take meaningful action simply by calling your legislators or sending them letters or e-mails. Remind them of the University’s irreplaceable value to the state. Tell them it’s time to stop retreating and to start moving forward once again.
Now, more than ever, we need your voice. The Legislative Network can give you the resources you need to make your voice heard and to unite it with the voices of other alumni. The immediate and future well-being of our University hinges on our ability to unify under this common cause—and to shelter the U from the coming storm.
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