Higher Education Partnership Volume 2 Issue 1 January, 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 Make University Funds a Priority Position December/ January Activities Higher Ed Funding: The Right Way Campus News Recruit a Member Contest Media Spotlight	Partnership Update Higher Ed Funding: The Right Way The proposal to give a pay raise to the faculty/staff of Alabama’s universities is a good idea. Many of Alabama’s university employees have suffered at least three years without even a cost-of-living adjustment, so it is well past due. As legislators decide whether or not to fund the increase, the Higher Education Partnership asks them to say “yes”. In addition, we ask them to make sure the funding does not come from sources that will ultimately weaken the universities’ overall positions. We appreciate the decision to not cut the retirement appropriation to 2%. Now, we ask them to heed our other requests. Legislators should make sure that university employees are not victims of a political game. The RSA money freed by the government accounting change is employee money and should stay in the university budgets. In addition, the legislature should give the universities the much deserved 8% increase in overall appropriations. By receiving this 8% increase and leaving the RSA money in the budget, the universities can address issues like salary increases, facility improvement, equipment upgrades, etc. The bottom line is: help the universities recover from three years of financial torture, leave the RSA funds in the budget and fund the operational needs. Higher education is important. Business leaders like Elmer Harris and Wallace Malone agree. Scholars like Wayne Flynt agree. Students and parents agree. Does the legislature agree?
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