State relations officer discusses proposed budget

For the upcoming school year, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad proposed a budget increase of $20 million for the Board of Regents, half of the amount the latter requested. The extra $4 million the University of Northern Iowa requested for the upcoming school year would have to come from the proposed $20 million increase, according to UNI state relations officer Jeneane Beck.

"The governor's budget recommendations came out a few weeks ago. He had 20 million (dollars) for the public universities, and coming out of that would have to be the money for UNI also," Beck said. "It's going to be a much smaller pot than what the board asked for, but it was a positive. It was an increase as opposed to a cut, so that was positive."

On Feb. 3, Beck, who replaced Joe Murphy as UNI's state relations officer, held a legislative update in Maucker Union, where she informed attendees about the future of UNI's budget and of other education-related issues.

According to Beck, last year, the Board of Regents requested $470.8 million for higher education. This amount included a recurring appropriation of $448.8 million, an incremental funding increase of 4 percent ($18 million) and a strategic initiative for UNI — $4 million each year until 2015.

While Branstad did not propose as much money as the board requested, Beck said there is still an increase in funding.

"However, because UNI's special appropriation request was not funded individually we must continue to make our case to both the governor's office and the legislature as to why (UNI) deserves special attention," Beck said in an email correspondence.

While there may not be funding for new projects this year, items such as the $8.2 million for the Bartlett and Baker projects are part of the governor's proposal, according to Beck.

Beck also addressed the issues surrounding Branstad's Education Reform Plan and how the plan may affect the education program at UNI.

"One of the biggest concerns on campus is the 3.0 GPA requirement for those entry students for the teacher preparation program and things like the Praxis tests," Beck said. "We're working with the governor's office to try and find some common ground."

One of the issues Beck and others in state relations are running into is Branstad's regulations.

"It puts us (the state relations) in a little bit of a disposition … because under Governor Branstad, he has said you cannot lobby for things without his permission," Beck said. "So this is his proposal ( the Education Reform Plan), and even though people here have some real concerns about that, the best way is for you to share them, maybe a letter to the editor or something. I can't at this point say that we don't like that (the plan)."

However, Beck said she agrees with Branstad's proposal for competency-based learning.

"We're trying to move forward with more of that," Beck said.

Beck mentioned one recent achievement for the university in 2012: the restoration of financial aid money for students receiving National Guard education benefits.

"One success that we did have this year was that we did get the Senate File 2007 passed, (which was) the proposal to have the restoration of $1.3 million that the National Guard had to trim its tuition assistance by," Beck said. "UNI was the first to step forward and say, ‘These students need certainty now; we'll back it,' so the governor did sign the legislation that restores funding for the colleges that stepped up."

Overall, since state relations officers can't lobby for things Branstad hasn't approved, Beck recommends faculty and students voice their concerns to their legislature.

"Anyone can contact their legislature," Beck said. "They can email them; they can call them. If you have concerns about the education reform package, you should share that with your representatives."

She also encouraged people to contact her whenever they have an issue.

"If you see something or hear something that you're concerned about, please tell me, because I don't want to miss something," Beck said, "and I appreciate that assistance and an extra set of eyes."