State must provide more funds for higher education

For our University, every biennial state budget is important. But that's especially true this year. Without strong budgetary support, Indiana's public colleges and universities will be unable to build on the progress we have made.\nAs the IDS stated in its Jan. 16 editorial ("Higher education should be a priority"), the State Budget Agency's proposal now calls for flat funding for four-year institutions statewide. IU and Purdue annually rank at the bottom of public Big Ten schools in per-student state funding. This proposal would widen the gap with our peer institutions, and would make even maintaining the status quo on our campuses extremely difficult.\nBut this is not a time for despair. It is a time for unity and action. IU students, staff, faculty members, alumni and supporters should come together to urge state leaders to allow us to sustain and improve our programs. We must carry the message about the quality of Indiana higher education and the importance of it to our future. \nFeb. 14, Hoosiers for Higher Education, our statewide interest group, will rally in Indianapolis and meet with our elected leaders. I hope those students whose class schedules permit will join in that effort. It is vital that IU's budget allocation at the very least allows us to sustain our current programs. \nTo cite one example of the pitfalls of a "flat-line" budget, look at the costs of health care. These costs are expected to rise at least 15 percent a year during the next two years because of economic forces over which IU has no control. The State Budget Agency's proposal allocates no funding for such increases. But even if the budget did allow us to maintain the status quo, that is not enough. \nWe have proposed new initiatives to preserve student access and raise retention and graduation rates. We would provide improved support, counseling and mentoring services, particularly for first-generation and at-risk students. We must increase resources for faculty -- for competitive salaries and to support teaching and research. \nWe also are seeking funds for the School of Informatics, which will broadly educate students in the technical and social aspects of information technology. Our top capital spending request is for a new Multidisciplinary Science Building. That state-of-the-art building will attract and educate outstanding scientists and will provide excellent teaching space. These and other quality improvements are not frills. They are programs and projects central to our mission of providing access to 21st century higher education to qualified Hoosier students.\nI recognize that the governor and the Legislature face difficult choices at a time when the economy is slowing. But they must take a long-range view. Higher education will diversify and strengthen Indiana's economy. Our state can't risk losing outstanding faculty members and students who might go elsewhere because of budget shortfalls.\nAs the budget process moves forward, we need to send a strong and unified message: For the future of Indiana, we cannot afford not to invest in higher education.