Legislature passes higher education bill

With governor's signature, U will receive additional $149.6 million

Legislators worked until the midnight deadline on the final day of the 2007 session. Among the products of their 11th-hour labors was a higher education bill to provide $149.6 million in new funding for the University of Minnesota system.

Photo by Patrick O'Leary (U Images Library)

By Rick Moore

May 22, 2007; updated May 31, 2007

On the final day of the 2007 session, May 21, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a higher education spending bill to provide an increase in funding of $149.6 million for the University of Minnesota for the 2008-09 biennium.

The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both bodies--by a vote of 65-0 in the Senate and 127-7 in the House.

The bill was presented to Gov. Tim Pawlenty May 29 and he signed it May 30.

"For the last several years, the University has been focused on reforms to improve the quality of education and the impact of our research and public responsibilities on Minnesota's economy and quality of life," President Bob Bruininks said in a statement May 21. "The funding bill passed today will ensure we can continue on that path to become one of the best public research universities in the world."

The University had requested $182.3 million in new state funding for the biennium. The increase represents about 82 percent of the U's request. The additional state support will be used to enhance the University's core mission and competitive position, and invest in measures that help "create Minnesota's future."

"Although the University did not get everything out of this legislative session that we sought, we are pleased with this outcome," Bruininks said.

Included in the latter category are new investments in health workforce and clinical sciences; science and engineering programs; and initiatives in the areas of environment, agricultural systems, and renewable energy. In addition, the funding will help to ensure that the U can recruit and retain world-class faculty and staff.

The higher education bill also includes measures aimed at stemming increases in tuition. There is a provision to implement tuition banding at the Morris, Crookston, and Duluth campuses similar to what's already in place on the Twin Cities campus, where students taking more than 13 credits pay no further tuition. In addition, the bill sets aside scholarship money for students of families earning less than $150,000.

The University of Minnesota had also requested that funding be dedicated to create a Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority, which would allow for the construction of four new buildings--plus renovation of a fifth--dedicated to state-of-the-art research in the biomedical sciences. But the legislature did not pass a bonding bill this session.

"Although the University did not get everything out of this legislative session that we sought, we are pleased with this outcome," Bruininks said. "Through this bill, the legislature recognizes the central importance of strong state support for higher education and a need to control the rate of tuition increases. I applaud legislative leadership and legislators from both parties for this strong bipartisan vote for addressing the future of higher education in Minnesota."

For more information, see the Office of Government and Community Relations' State Relations Web site.