UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 22, Page 1
March 5, 1992
University presents request to Joint Finance Committee

     University of Delaware President David P. Roselle asked
members of the General Assembly's Joint Finance Committee March 3
for their positive consideration of the governor's recommended
allocation to the University for the upcoming fiscal year.
     However, should the state's economic climate improve, Roselle
urged equitable budget treatment for the University, and he
outlined a request for an additional $2 million of support for
campus programs.
     Given the state's fiscal constraints, Gov. Castle proposed a
"thoughtful and reasoned FY 1993 budget," Roselle said, calling the
recommendation "reflective of funding priorities in higher
education which will assist the University in best serving the
citizens of Delaware."
     In his presentation, Roselle examined the rate of increase in
the state appropriation to the University in the fiscal years from
1986-92.
     "We are genuinely concerned over the treatment that the
University has received in recent years with respect to our level
of state support," Roselle told the legislators.
     "It is quite evident that the University's appropriation has
generally grown at a rate significantly below that for other state
agencies," he said, and "the inequity becomes even more apparent"
in the last five fiscal years, when the state's and the
University's fiscal constraints have been the most pronounced.
     From 1988-92, Roselle explained, "the University's growth rate
for its state appropriation was substantially below that for higher
education as a whole, below that for the other state-supported
institutions and below the growth rate for the state budget as a
whole.
     "Looking at the net increase over five years," he said, "the
University's appropriation has grown by 10.9 percent, that for
Delaware State College by 20.3 percent, for Delaware Technical and
Community College by 27.8 percent, for all of higher education by
17.1 percent and by 16.9 percent for the total state budget."
     At the same time, Roselle said, the University's cumulative
growth rate is significantly below the 20.4 percent increase in the
Consumer Price Index.
     "The University of Delaware has been a full and active partner
in working with the state to address unanticipated revenue
shortfalls in recent years," he stressed, noting the FY 1991
reversion of $3 million, over $1 million of which has not been
replaced.
     During that same period of time, covering fiscal years 1991,
1992 and projected 1993, Roselle said, "the University has
effectively dealt with its own fiscal constraints, eliminating
$24.3 million in items from its basic operating budget.
     "These reductions have been particularly painful in that they
have included the equivalent of 271 personnel lines," he said, and
"have entailed some very difficult decisions with respect to
program reductions and elimination."
     While the major portion of position cuts have been made in
non-instructional areas, the president said, "Our capacity to
preserve the academic core of the University will be substantially
jeopardized if state support is further eroded.
     "It is within the context of our own record of effective
fiscal management while fully cooperating with the state in
addressing its difficulties, that we strongly urge more equitable
treatment as the state's economic climate improves," Roselle said.
     The president then detailed the University's request for an
additional $2 million over the governor's recommendation, should
the state's revenue picture improve. The "first and foremost" part
of the request, Roselle said, is for $1 million to replace funds
returned to the state as part of the FY 91 reversion.
     If those funds are permanently lost, Roselle said, "the
University will have no alternative other than to raise tuition
over and above normal inflationary increases, or permanently cut
the programs, services and personnel that would have been supported
by those funds."
     Roselle also sought an additional $248,000 in funding over the
governor's recommendation to support a campus priority-student
scholarships and financial aid programs.
     To illustrate the need for additional support, Roselle said
the average unmet need for the 2,350 Delaware residents at the
University who are recipients of financial aid is in excess of
$1,600 per student.
     In the scholarship request are two new programs. A Delaware
Scholars Award would recognize the academic achievements of top
graduating seniors in Delaware high schools who will attend the
University, retaining that talent within the state. A Nursing
Scholarship Endowment Fund would generate tuition scholarships to
attract and retain the brightest students to the College of
Nursing.
     Also requested were $160,000 to cover inflationary increases
in the cost of library books and periodicals-costs that far outpace
inflation; $250,000 in one-time funding for undergraduate
laboratory equipment, especially in chemistry, physics and
engineering- notably agricultural engineering; $65,000 for an
additional faculty line in the Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional
Management Program; $25,000 to help meet the costs associated with
expanded delivery of the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
program in southern Delaware; and $70,000 for two library
positions, to assist in meeting the information needs of users
throughout the state.