Brand steps up lobbying efforts

Facing the prospect of funding cuts for higher education in the state budget, IU President Myles Brand has stepped up efforts to lobby those who control it. \nIn response to a proposed Senate Finance Committee moratorium on capital building projects and a general slashing of higher education funds, Brand has been meeting with key legislators and contacting IU alumni to garner support for increased funding. \nBrand released a statement Friday expressing concern about the proposed funding cutbacks the committee suggested, stressing that Indiana's economic future relies on top-quality higher education.\n"I understand the difficulties facing state leaders during an economic slowdown," Brand said in his statement. "But I urge them to look at the central role that higher education must play in making our economy stronger and more diverse."\nTwo areas Brand mentioned were the informatics school and the new multi-disciplinary science building, top priorities throughout the budget process. The revised Senate bill does not include funding for the informatics school, and it could delay the science building's construction. \nIn his statement, Brand said the school will, "educate the employees and entrepreneurs who can help build Indiana's high-tech economy."\nUniversity spokeswoman Susan Dillman said the trend of lower higher education funding has been troubling administrators all year, but when the budget process started progressing, the University took more action. \n"The president and members of the administration, as well as the trustees, have been concerned throughout the legislative session about the budget," Dillman said. "We started with a flat-line budget. That was when the concern started. \n"It was sort of (an) indication of the kinds of things that we could end up with."\nNow the Legislature is one step closer to making the University's fears a reality, and Dillman said this is sending the wrong message to students in Indiana. \n"If that is the version of the bill that passes the entire Senate, then an entire chamber of the legislature has essentially said this is how the final version of the budget bill should look," Dillman said. "If we don't invest in higher education that can prepare Hoosiers for the high-tech jobs the state wanted to bring here, we will continue to see a brain drain."\nDon Weaver, special assistant to the president for state relations, has been a part of the lobbying process. Weaver is in the Statehouse daily, setting up meetings with legislators and IU supporters. \nWeaver praised Brand's lobbying efforts, saying Brand had met with Senate Finance Committee members Steven Johnson (R-21) and Robert Meeks (R-13), as well as the governor's office and budget agency and Rep. Pat Bauer (D-6), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.\nBrand and Weaver said the relationship between IU and Purdue University during this budget cycle has been positive and helpful, as the institutions face similar situations. Both schools have regional campuses and share an office in Indianapolis with four other institutions.\n"We work together on a daily basis," Weaver said. \nIn a letter sent to in-state parents earlier this month, Brand echoed Weaver's sentiments, writing, "IU and Purdue long have ranked at or near the bottom among Big Ten public universities in per-student state funding … We will urge state leaders to adopt a budget that will allow us to sustain and improve our programs. We have a compelling story to tell about the quality of Indiana higher education and its importance to our future. Progress cannot be achieved by taking one step forward and one step back"