The West Virginia University Alumni Association has taken positions on a number of higher education matters now pending in the state Legislature, including tuition, capital debt financing, peer equity, research and economic development and the budget.

The Association sponsored a legislative reception Feb. 18 in Charleston in which its positions were outlined. Those positions echo the sentiments expressed by University administrators before the Higher Education Policy Commission.

“We oppose any further erosion of WVU s base budget appropriations,”said Association Executive Director Steve Douglas. WVU s campuses, taken together, are receiving below average appropriations support from the Legislature, he said.

The Association supports a proposed tuition plan by Higher Education Chancellor J. Michael Mullen which will be under discussion for the next year.”We need revenue to continue improving qualityour students want good jobs,”Douglas said.

The Association is also backing the chancellors proposed proceeds-based capital debt reallocation plan and restoration of proposed budget cuts before funding peer equity.

According to Douglas,”WVUs base budget should not be reallocated to support the mission upgrades of other institutions.”

On research and economic development, the Association supports increasing Gov. Bob Wises proposed funding of research and all research-based higher education initiatives. Such initiatives will create jobs for West Virginians, Douglas said.

The WVU Alumni Association represents the institutions largest constituency of more than 140,000 graduates worldwide. It is a separate, non-profit organization apart from West Virginia University.