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Alumni Association Advocacy

The University of Minnesota Alumni Association has a long history of alumni involvement in advocacy on behalf of the University. Join the Alumni Association in taking action on the 2007-08 priority issues:

State Capitol Update: April 9, 2008

Capital Bonding Bill is Passed

On April 7, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced his approval of $716.8 million in state bonding, trimming $208 million from the bill sent to him by the legislature.

Overall, the bonding package is good for the University of Minnesota, although we had hoped for a better outcome for the Bell Museum project and Classroom Improvement funding, which were vetoed by the Governor. The University received support for a host of highly important projects and maintenance programs:

HEAPR (maintenance): $35 million
Science Teaching and Student Services Building: $48.3 million
Civil Engineering, UMD: $10 million
Gateway Center, UMM: $5 million
Laboratory Renovations: $3.3 million
Research and Outreach Centers: $3.5 million

Click here to see background on the request.

Click here to view a PDF document of comparison figures for the request and the final outcome.

The Governor also signed into law the Minnesota Biomedical Research Program, a landmark $292 million project ($219 million from the state, plus $73 million funded by the U) to build four world-class science facilities on the East Bank campus.

Click here to see background on the biomedical program request.

State Budget Deficit

In March, the state’s budget forecast was issued showing a $935 million shortfall requiring reductions in expenditures.

The Governor’s budget proposes a $27 million reduction in the University’s budget for the second year of the biennium (FY2009). President Bob Bruininks stated that he expects the University to participate in solving the state’s budget problem, but feels a $27 million cut is more than the University’s share. When testifying before the house, President Bruininks shared that the U has three choices to manage a cut of that size, all of which would be harmful to the U and the State of Minnesota: lay off employees, stop new investments or raise tuition.

The House and Senate have both passed a supplemental budget that has now moved to conference committee. The cuts proposed to the University are between $6 and $10 million. Provisions are also included to prohibit the University from raising tuition more than was already planned for 2009.

If the Governor does not sign the legislature’s supplemental budget he can balance the budget on his own. He would first have to spend down the roughly $600 million in state reserve funds and then could unallot whatever he chooses from the state’s budget in order to balance it.

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit
On February 27 the Met Council approved LRT through the University of Minnesota as an at-grade transit mall on Washington Avenue.

The University is carefully studying the feasibility of the LRT at grade transit mall on Washington and is working with the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Met Council and the Central Corridor LRT staff team to determine the necessary mitigations, the design of the mall and integrated transportation system and the finance plan to implement this option.

The Northern Alignment is the Board of Regents and the University of Minnesota’s preferred alternative. The University requested the Northern Alignment be studied in 2001 and renewed that request in November, 2007. The study of this alignment is currently underway and funded by the University. It would run on one of two routes: an east-bound line on University Avenue and a west-bound line on 4^th Street Southeast or in the Dinkytown rail corridor to the east gateway district of the University campus.

Alumni Association position in response to the February 27 Metropolitan Council decision:

Continue to oppose an at-grade LRT solution, and stand by our previously approved board resolution.
Press for full exploration of other alternatives currently under investigation.
Continue to closely follow this issue and vigorously advocate for the well-being of the University.

Join the Legislative Network

Statewide Speakers Tour

The University of Minnesota Alumni Association, along with University deans and faculty members, will travel to more than 35 Minnesota communities to talk about the ‘U’ and how its teaching, research and outreach benefit specific areas and the entire state. Speakers will discuss their cutting-edge research and the U's involvement with society’s most pressing issues. Click here to see the upcoming stops.