Students from the University of Idaho traveled to Boise for the annual Legislative Breakfast to share their college experiences with Idaho legislators last week.
ASUI Lobbyist Andrew Blake said students provide a personal connection for legislators to the university.
“Legislative Breakfast events are designed to serve the students as much as the university,” Blake said. “And gave many the chance to meet with alumni, view the state capital, interact with state government, and network with peers and others during their time here.”
Blake said the students were asked to speak about some key legislative priorities which help advance the university and the opportunities available within it.
ASUI President Hannah Davis said students were able to meet with most of the representatives and senators they hoped to speak with.
“It was a really good turn-out, what we got,” Davis said. “The students had a good time, and the legislature was impressed that we were all there, so I think it went really well.”
Blake said the reception to the ideas presented and the importance of higher education in Idaho reflects the wide range of the political spectrum represented in Boise and Idaho’s unique political make up.
Along with students meeting with legislators, UI President M. Duane Nellis presented his annual budget to the Joint Appropriations Finance Committee, requesting some large budget changes to the university.
First, Nellis requested a Change in Employee Compensation for faculty and staff. He indicated he wants to ensure that the UI retains a quality faculty and staff.
“That’s our number one priority this year,” Nellis said.
Blake said the CEC provides for greater funding for UI faculty and staff and aids in retaining the quality and talent, which set the university apart.
Another request made by Nellis includes an enrollment workload adjustment, to help cover the direct cost of educating students.
Nellis said UI has more students than ever, which increases the costs of heating, cooling and maintenance. He said these costs would offset increases over the last few years and provide direct funding to utilities and maintenance of buildings on campuses.
Students at the breakfast also requested legislators to add five seats to the Washington, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, Idaho (WWAMI) collaborative medical school program at the University of Washington, which was supported by Nellis, who requested JFAC to support funding for the five additional seats, which would make the total 25.
Idaho has the same number of seats in the WWAMI as it did in 1973, even though the population has almost doubled.
“We have the lowest number of positions, per capita, of any state in the nation,” Nellis said.
Nellis also requested $400,000 to add a second year curriculum to the already “very successful” third year program for the College of Law in Boise.
He requested $196,000 to fund the new rangeland center, which was established by the legislature last year for addressing issues such as sage grouse and wildfires. This request is in addition to the restored funding for agricultural research provided by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter.
JFAC composition visited UI campus last year to see the deferred maintenance issues, currently needing more than $200 million for basic maintenance of the facilities.
Nellis said while funding is hard to come by, safety and basic maintenance remain a priority for UI.
“Of course we need to look to the future too,” Nellis said.
A new Integrated Research and Innovation Center will be built on the Moscow campus — the first academic structure to be built in 10 years.
The Permanent Building Fund Advisory Council recommended approval of $2.5 million in “seed money” for the university to build this center. Another $130 million will be bonded and $15 million will be raised from other sources.
Emily Johnson can be reached at [email protected]