LINE -HEIGHT: 150%”>WVU President Mike Garrison says the states flagship university fared well in the recent legislative session, with more than $8 million added to its base budget.Our Governor and legislative leaders are looking at WVU as an investment in the future,he said.While other states are cutting back on higher education, West Virginia is investing both in our people and our infrastructure.

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LINE -HEIGHT: 150%”>Most of the public attention on higher education during the session was on Governor Joe ManchinsBucks for Brainsproposal, which sailed through both houses with strong bipartisan support. The legislation created a $50 million research endowment70 percent for WVU that can be tapped only when matched dollar-for-dollar with private gifts. WVU is moving quickly to raise $35 million to match its share of the fund.

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LINE -HEIGHT: 150%”>But outside of the glare of publicity, Garrison says, legislators did some serious work strengthening the Universitys budget, setting aside funds for capital improvements and giving the University more flexibility to meet future staffing needs.

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LINE -HEIGHT: 150%”>The Universitys budgetincluding the main Morgantown campus and the health and regional campuseswas increased by about 5.4 percent,Garrison said.A substantial part of this is in the unrestricted budget and will be available for pay raises for the main campus and HSC .

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LINE -HEIGHT: 150%”>The University will need to supplement this from other sources to implement a pay raise this year, but Garrison says that this remains a high priority:Every dollar invested into WVU by the State returns $19 of economic activity in the State. It is the people of WVU faculty, staff and administratorswho generate this tremendous return to the state and that we must invest in those people to reward, retain and recruit within what is fast becoming a very competitive job market. We will be reviewing a 2008-09 salary plan with our Board of Governors this spring.

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LINE -HEIGHT: 150%”>The legislature also raised staff and faculty longevity pay from $50 per year of service to $60, and removed a 6 percent cap on retirement matching that prevented WVU from offering retirement benefits competitive with other national research universities. WVU has established a Total Compensation Work Group that is reviewing all employee benefits.

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LINE -HEIGHT: 150%”>Garrison also commended the Legislature and the Governor for making substantial allocations towards the retirement and sick leave benefit liabilities that the state and its colleges and universities face.This issue does not generate the excitement that other initiatives might, but the importance cannot be underestimated,he said.

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LINE -HEIGHT: 150%”>In addition, about $8 million in general revenue matching money was set aside for higher education capital projects.