By
Emily Severson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Likins urges investment or universities will be left behind
TEMPE - UA President Peter Likins urged the Arizona Board of Regents yesterday to invest in research, biotechnology and information technology with Proposition 301 funds in order for the UA to be a strong presence in the new economy.
"With these funds we have the possibility to attract powerful players but we have to demonstrate that we are interested," Likins said at yesterday's meeting at Arizona State University.
He also emphasized that the funds should go toward work force development - which requires excellent education at all levels and nobody should be left out.
"Knowledge will be the most prized resource in the new economy," Likins said. "Arizona will only be a true leader if we ensure that no one gets left behind."
George Davis, UA Provost, said investing in biotechnology will create an enhanced work force which will create wealth for the university through new products and patents.
He added that by investing in science, the university would be improving Arizona health care by developing new therapies for treatment of disease.
Laurence Hurley, a UA professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacy, said that if the regents decided to use some of the Prop. 301 monies to fund this research they would see a return on the investment within a few years.
"We should be able to support the infrastructure for biotechnology companies in Tucson and Phoenix, at least in Phoenix in two to three years," Hurley said. "The opportunity is great and it will happen."
He advised the regents that they should make a continued partnership with the business community to see more opportunities occur in Tucson and Phoenix.
"Right here now we have the technology to be a tremendous asset to Arizona in terms of health care," Hurley said. "These exist right now but we have to bring the right people to the right place."
Likins added that the UA is at the cusp of opportunity right now.
"We have the next few years to define ourselves as players or we will be left in the dust," Likins said.
Representatives from the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University all presented their individual proposals to ABOR.
The UA emphasis on optics for Prop. 301 funds include generation-transmission optics, photonics, laser sources for communications and computers, imaging and sensor detection of pre-cancer cells and astronomical instruments.
The UA has also designated some of the proposition's funds to go to water research to alleviate the water scarcity in Arizona.
In other business, the framework to put into place the Arizona Regents University - an online university accessible to Arizona residents as well as potential students from around the world - was approved.
Associated Students President Ben Graff said he thought the ARU was a good idea because of accessibility.
"This will help people who have trouble accessing college campuses," Graff said. "It takes into consideration people who may have a low income and can't afford tuition but have access to a computer."
Graff added that he hoped the quality of the education would not be lessened by the online courses. He said he thought aspects like online discussions should be included in course work so the students don't feel cheated.
The proposed budget for the ARU is $2 million annually to cover education grants, management and consulting services and operating expenses.
However, some ABOR members don't think this will sustain the program.
Regents President Don Ulrich said he saw a problem with the proposed $2 million.
"It is a drop in the bucket and not going to do much," he said. "It is like me trying to wear an extra-small T-shirt. It just doesn't fit."
The framework was unanimously approved with the tentative budget.
The regents will not have to start attaching dollar amounts to their proposals until the next meeting on March 1 and 2 at the UA.
