Mo' money, mo' benefits

There are few (even among Purdue Boilermakers) who can legitimately deny that IU is a valuable asset to Indiana and its residents. But many may wonder exactly how valuable it is. \nNow, there is an answer. \nAccording to a new, 18-page report presented to the State Budget Committee by IU President Adam Herbert as part of the University's funding request for the state's 2007 to 2009 budget, IU added $3.2 billion to the state in the 2005-2006 fiscal year. That figure includes $5.9 billion if the IU School of Medicine and connected services are included. \nLast year, IU surpassed every other Indiana four-year public and private university combined in attracting grants and contracts to fund research. \nVictor Borden, IU's associate vice president for University planning, said in an interview with The Herald-Times that IU can take credit for half of the economic impact of all of Indiana's four-year educational institutions. \nIU's impact on the economic stability of the state, not to mention its influence on the state's education level, should be heavily considered by the committee when making funding decisions. \nIn addition, IU accounted for 36 percent of all bachelor's, master's and professional doctoral degrees in Indiana from 1996 to 2005. IU also awarded at least a third of all the state's business, social sciences and psychology, humanities and performing arts, and natural science and mathematics degrees in those same years. Almost half of all education degrees in the state and 42 percent of health and life sciences degrees are also given by IU. \nMost significant, however, is the amount of human services and public administration degrees awarded; IU grants 67 percent, over two-thirds, of Indiana's degrees in this field.\nGiven these impressive statistics, we at the IDS editorial board hope the State Budget Committee will consider increasing IU's funding. IU deserves more money from the state government to further develop the University in those areas that have the greatest economic and social impact on the state, especially the life sciences.\nIU President Adam Herbert, along with the IU administration and faculty, has outlined the Indiana Life Sciences Initiative that hopes to create 14,000 new jobs, develop 100 new companies and attract an additional $2.4 billion research dollars to the state by 2019. The plan requires the state government to invest $80 million over the next two years. Currently, IU is ranked seventh among the 11 Big Ten universities in federal funding for life science research from the two leading sources -- the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation Biology Directorate. The Indiana Life Sciences Initiative should improve IU's rankings and add to the measure of the University's success. \nAn increase in funding is a modest request compared to the potential returns in terms of benefits to Hoosiers throughout the state. IU is an investment in the future of the state and its citizens. The greater the amount invested the greater benefit for all those involved.