West Virginia University will see a reduction in its base budget for fiscal year 2005 of approximately $5 million ($7 million including Health Sciences), or 4.5 percent, University officials said Tuesday (March 23), following the conclusion of the legislative session. But a fee simplification bill, new research fund and capital improvement bond measure revived during a special session should help WVU offset this latest round of cuts.

The $3.07 billion 2004-2005 state spending plan approved by lawmakers March 21 appropriates about $101 million for WVU ’s main campus base budget, said Dave Miller, special assistant to the president and legislative liaison. That figure is down from last year’s base of $106 million.

We’re obviously disappointed with any cut, but pleased that we were spared the 8-9 percent reductions faced by other state agencies,Miller said, noting that the final figure was a compromise between Gov. Bob Wise’s proposal and those crafted by the House and Senate. The governor’s proposal called for a 2.5 percent cut for higher education. House and Senate versions were in the range of 4-6 percent.

The fact that higher education’s budget was cut significantly less than other state agencies is a testament to the efforts of President Hardesty, his staff and our many advocates,Miller said.Beginning last summer, in talks with the governor and other legislative leaders, WVU made it clear it could not absorb another round of massive cuts, and that it needed additional flexibility measures to operate more efficiently. It’s clear that advance planning and unified messaging helped.

Through additional streamlining and improvement measures approved by lawmakers, some program cuts and modest increases in tuition and fees, WVU should be able to weather this latest budget reduction, said Scott Kelley, vice president of administration, finance and human resources.

The FY �€~05 state spending plan also contains a $100,000 line item appropriation as part of WVU ’s budget specifically earmarked for reinstatement of the rifle team. The team, along with four others, was cut last year in a cost savings move. University officials say they arecarefully consideringoptions in light of the new funding.

Funding approved for college research

College-based scientific research will get $4 million a year in a bill approved by lawmakers. The money will come from racetrack video lottery revenues.

An original bill passed by lawmakers allotting annual lottery proceeds did not include money for the Research Challenge Fund. It was vetoed by Gov. Wise, and then retooled by lawmakers in special session.

Since most of the college-based research in West Virginia occurs at WVU , it’s likely the University will benefit greatly from this additional funding,Miller noted.But it should be noted the money will be awarded on a competitive basis from proposals submitted by universities and colleges across the state that conduct research.

Fee simplification measure revived

Going into the 2004 legislative session, WVU ’s priorities included bills to enable the University to operate more efficiently given the recent cuts to its budget.

While a proposal to simplify tuition and fees accounts (SB165) died in the regular session, a similar measure (HB101) was introduced during the special session and passed.

At a time when we are being asked to do more with less, passage of this bill will go a long way in helping us trim administrative costs,Miller added.It will enable us to consolidate some 65 different fee accounts into three, resulting in a savings of approximately $250,000 a year.”

The bill also allows four-year institutions to increase tuition and fees by as much as 11 percent if certain conditions established by the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) are met.

Another bill that would improve schools’administrative flexibility (HB4712) died in a House committee.

Bond issue approved

Another measure that died during the regular session but was revived and passed during the special session will enable the Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) to sell bonds to fund campus improvements.

Legislators adopted a resolution dedicating $10 million in annual lottery revenues to support debt service on a new bond issue. HEPC can sell approximately $150 million in bonds to pay for building and maintenance projects at 13 campuses.

WVU and its regional campuses have submitted more than $56 million in potential projects for bond funding. The projects include an upgrade of infrastructure on the downtown Morgantown campus; Brooks Hall renovation; and alleviating subsidence issues with the Main Building at WVU -Parkersburg.

*Regional campuses to remain administratively linked to WVU *

Community colleges at WVU -P and WVU Institute of Technology at Montgomery will remain tied administratively to WVU ’s main campus under legislation approved by lawmakers during the recent regular session of the Legislature.

The measure gives greater authority and powers to the Community and Technical College Council, something proponents say is needed to make the two-year schools more responsive to the needs of working adults and of employers seeking job-training programs. The Council would assume from HEPC control of tuition, fees and personnel at all two-year campuses. At the same time, community college campuses would continue to be controlled by four-year boards of governors atadministratively linkedinstitutions.

“We are very pleased that our administrative link with WVU remains intact,”noted Joseph Badgley, WVU -P interim president.”The link is actually strengthened in that the chairperson of WVU -P’s Board of Advisors will become a member of WVU ’s Board of Governors.”

The bill (SB448) also extends university status to West Virginia State, Fairmont State, Concord and Shepherd colleges. The measure makes clear that WVU and Marshall are the only research/doctoral institutions in the state.