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By George Vlahakis
In his presentation of Indiana University's 1997-99 appropriation request, IU President Myles Brand told members of the Commission for Higher Education (HEC) that the state is getting a good return for its money and backed up his point with examples.
In a 30-minute presentation Sept. 12, Brand explained in depth how the Strategic Directions Charter (SDC) is the university's "road map for the future. It will make us a far more accessible learning environment. It puts us on a path toward meeting the goals of this commission."
With assistance from Roger Farr, IUB professor of education and director of the Center for Reading and Language Studies, Brand showed IU has been responsive to the needs of Indiana by forming partnerships with elementary and secondary schools and those in law, health care and governmental affairs.
The charter's initiatives are a pivotal component of IU's budget request. Over the coming biennium, IU is asking for a 2-percent increase in its state appropriation for continued investments in the Strategic Directions initiatives and informational technologies and a 4-percent increase in support for ongoing operations.
If the university's request were fully funded, tuition increases could be limited to a level equal to the rate of inflation, Brand told HEC commissioners at the Conference Center at Eagle Village in Zionsville.
This would amount to an increase in IU's state appropriation from $669.1 million in the 1996-97 academic year to $723.8 million in 1998-99. The operating appropriation portion would increase by 7.9 percent in the first year of the biennium and 7.3 percent in the second year.
In addition, IU also is seeking state support for capital projects such as the proposed Theatre/Neal-Marshall Educational Center at Bloomington and a possible adaptation of the IU Law School-Indianapolis building to accommodate the Herron School of Art.
In introductory remarks on behalf of all of Indiana's public higher education institutions, Purdue President Steven Beering said all the schools had worked together in recent months formulating budget requests that seek the same percentage increases.
After outlining how IU has aggressively moved to become more accessible, efficient and accountable, Brand discussed how Strategic Directions will enable the university to continue in that direction.
"Our budget request reflects two concerns at IU: that we be able to continue our tradition of excellence and stewardship to the state of Indiana, while operating within the fiscal constraints facing the state," he said. "We can do both successfully because of Strategic Directions.
"This is our business plan," he continued. "It is meant to be used as a business plan and not put on a shelf. We put resources behind the people who had the best ideas and greatest potential to affect meaningful and lasting impact."
IU selected 53 projects from more than 250 proposals submitted by faculty and staff during the SDI's initial round of funding, and $4.3 million was allocated to them. Brand emphasized how the monies spent are intended to be seed money for the projects and that they are allocated throughout the IU system. He then deferred to Farr, who explained in further detail how several projects are helping the people of the state.
"What a university is all about is harnessing the power found in the people on it campuses," Brand said. "As America's New Public University, we can respond because we are accessible and accountable."
He wrapped up by discussing IU's capital request, which includes $34.6 million for general repair and rehabilitation of existing facilities and infrastructure.
Requests for new construction are $21 million for the Theatre/Neal Marshall Education Center, $31 million over two phases for the Herron/Law project, $9.2 million for remodeling of the life science building at Southeast, $40 million for a new graduate school of business building at IUB, $16 million for a classroom building at IUPUI, $14 million for a student activities center at South Bend, $13 million for a new science building at Kokomo and $17 million for a professional education building at Northwest.
Brand emphasized that many of the new construction projects involved the renovation and expansion of existing facilities and that IU has sought private support where possible. For example, $5 million has been raised to match state funds for the Theatre/Neal Marshall project and $18 million will be raised for the business graduate school building.