Higher Education Partnership Volume 2 Issue 3 April-May,1998 In support of and working together with Alabama A & M Univ Alabama State Univ Univ of Alabama Univ of Ala at Bham Univ of Ala at Huntsville Auburn Univ Auburn Univ at Mtgy Jacksonville State Univ Univ.of Montevallo Univ of North Alabama Univ of South Alabama Troy State Univ Troy State Univ Dothan Troy State Univ Mtgy Univ of West Alabama  Inside this Issue Petition Drive a Success Restructured Board of Directors Holds First Meeting SGA Leadership Honored Call to Action: Legislative Session Ends Let's Improve the Economy	Partnership Update Let's Improve the Economy by Investing in our Universities
	Neal Wade, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, stated in a recent newspaper article that feeling overjoyed about a low unemployment percentage of 3.8 is an overreaction. Wade calls on Alabamians to consider a more comprehensive picture of economic growth. While he agrees that unemployment is important, he says the amount of wealth created is a more realistic measure. Wade points out that Alabama is still trailing the majority of states in per capita income and average annual pay. With the average annual pay growing in the nation, yet lagging behind in Alabama, the Higher Education Partnership, representing faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Alabama’s universities, wonders if it would make a difference if the state's college students were being encouraged rather than discouraged by state leaders? Where would we be if university researchers were being encouraged rather than discouraged? With Alabama’s universities still lagging behind our Southeastern peers in funding, a critical component in Alabama’s economic development formula is operating under adverse circumstances. Time and time again, it has been shown that an investment in a college degree will pay great economic dividends over a person’s lifetime. However, following the James' administration's lead, much of Alabama has chosen to spend the last four years blasting our universities. It took an election year for political leaders to even offer our universities a funding increase that was greater than inflation.   Back to Higher Education Partnership Update, April-May,1998 Front Page	With Alabama losing economic ground to the rest of the nation, the Higher Education Partnership suggests a simple and seemingly obvious solution. Let’s elect state leaders who are opposed to taking money away from our universities, closing institutions and reducing the number of Alabamians attending college. Let’s elect leaders who will set pro-higher education goals that will lead to quality jobs. Let’s improve the state’s ranking for “citizens who are college graduates” (currently 47th nationally). Let’s open the doors to all 15 of our public four-year university campuses to their widest points and encourage students to travel through them on their way to quality jobs. Let’s have the funding in place so that Alabama’s universities can compete for the best faculty in the nation. Let’s vote for candidates who will send a message to the world that Alabama is willing to invest in our future and encourage students. Let’s show the economic developers that Alabama wants quality jobs that lead to improved per capita income and greater wealth. One of the keys to reaching these goals is electing leaders who will make a commitment to supporting our state’s universities.
	P. O. Box 761, Montgomery, AL 36101-0761334-832-9911Fax 334-832-9995