By
Eric Swedlund
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA's budget presentation to go before Legislature
PHOENIX - The UA's success rests on maintaining appropriate ways of
measuring university performance on all levels, university President Peter
Likins told a House panel yesterday.
"Performance measures are very much a part of our culture and the way we deal with students and faculty," Likins said. "Measuring how we perform is essential to the learning process."
Likins gave a presentation outlining the University of Arizona's mission
to the Arizona House of Representatives Appropriations Committee.
Likins said he appreciated the invitation from Appropriations Chair Rep. Laura Knaperek, R-Tempe, to have a hearing not about money, but about mission. He added that he further appreciated the general tone and demeanor of the committee.
"The enthusiasm and optimism is so different from last year," Likins said. "This is an absolutely transformational year. The change in attitude of state government toward higher education is profound."
Both Knaperek and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Ruth Solomon, D-Tucson, have spoken in support of the state universities.
Regent Jack Jewett said that, with budgets headed in the right direction,
he was optimistic about the state of higher education in Arizona.
"The resources are starting to flow," Jewett said. "Finances have been a
restraining factor in the past."
Likins said this session of the Arizona Legislature may signal a more
positive relationship between the UA and state government.
"I am deeply gratified by the sense that we are working together now
without getting bogged down in the struggle for dollars," Likins said.
Tomorrow will be the UA's budget presentation to the appropriations
committees of both the House and Senate.
Likins said that, in past years, questions of course content and appropriate Internet usage from legislators have been "distressing distractions" that "should not find their way into appropriations hearings."
Likins said the Legislature's increased emphasis on higher education for
this biennial budget session reflects an understanding that public universities are a valuable state resource in terms of economic development, health care and social services.
"Arizonans are responding to a nationwide movement that is driven by the realization that higher education is the nucleus of the new economy," Likins said.
Likins also told the panel that graduate teaching assistants have been subjected to expanded responsibilities.
"We rely heavily on the deployment of advanced graduate students as teaching assistants," Likins said. "One top priority I have is an investment in increasing the graduate student teaching assistant work force so they're not overburdened."
In addition to more positive budget proposals from both the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and Gov. Jane Hull, Likins said money for teaching assistants is freed up by funds from Proposition 301 - calling for a 0.6 percent sales tax increase benefiting education - passed by voters in November.
The Arizona Board of Regents will decide how to use the 12 percent of an
expected $459 million earmarked for its three state universities. The proposition stipulates that the universities must use the money for technology-based research.
"It's extraordinary to be able to have this springboard for projects we have not been able to fund in the past," Jewett said.
The regents will discuss proposals for Proposition 301 funding during a study session at their meeting Thursday at Arizona State University in Tempe.
"We can make sure those dollars are leveraged in a way that yields a return to the taxpayers," Likins said.
Eric Swedlund can be reached at Eric.Swedlund@wildcat.arizona.edu.
