UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 19, Page 1
February 8, 1996
President presents case for additional state funding
Calling the University of Delaware's budget request "a financial
blueprint for fuller realization of the University's central mission,"
President David P. Roselle yesterday made a case for state support
above that recommended by the governor, in a hearing before members of
the General Assembly's Joint Finance Committee in Dover.
"The additional increase over last year is a wise investment, not
only in the state's preeminent research University, but in the state
of Delaware itself," Roselle told the legislators, as he outlined the
University's request for an additional $2.2 million over what the
governor recommended for the upcoming fiscal year.
The University had requested $3.4 million, or an increase of 4.4
percent over last year's appropriation. The governor recommended $1.2
million, or a 1.6 percent increase, plus an increase for salaries and
other employment costs.
While the University appreciates the level of recurring support
over last year recommended by the governor, including a new
inititiative to enhance the teaching of mathematics and science in
Delaware schools, Roselle said there are two unfunded items that are
"absolute necessities to the University and the state."
The first-a Molecular Biology/ Biotechnology Program-represents a
unique strategic opportunity for Delaware, he said, and the second-
elevating women's crew to intercollegiate varsity status-comes in
response to a University commitment to fairness as well as a federal
mandate of gender equity in sports, he said.
"Partnerships between research universities and industry have
been major factors in the explosive growth of high technology sectors
of the economies of such states as North Carolina, Michigan,
California and Texas," Roselle said.
"The state of Delaware has an opportunity to become a national
and world leader in the rapidly growing area of biotechnology,"
Roselle said, building on the common interest in molecular biology and
genetic engineering at the UD's College of Agricultural Sciences and
Department of Biology and at the Agricultural Products Division of the
DuPont Co., as well as with researchers at DuPont-Merck and Zeneca,
among others.
"Biotechnology is the application of knowledge gained from the
biological sciences and applied to human needs," Roselle explained.
"It affects virtually every facet of human life and provides
invaluable tools for conquering disease, while at the same time making
major contributions to the nation's economy.
"Rapid progress in biotechnology is fueled by a vigorous and
broadly based science and engineering enterprise. Delaware's full
participation in this enterprise can be catalyzed and greatly enhanced
by a strategic investment in the state's research University," Roselle
said.
Scott Tingey, research supervisor of DuPont's Molecular Breeding
Group, also spoke at the hearing, describing the company's current and
planned activities related to its DNA genetic sequencing project and
how support for the University's funding request would help with those
efforts.
The request of $400,000 would fund the salaries, benefits and
operating support costs for five new molecular biologist and
biochemist positions- specializing in gene targeting, soils and
sediment and biological macromolecules-as well as provide one-time
funding of $1.25 million for such research equipment as nuclear
magnetic resonance imagers, X-ray crystallographic devices, a flow
cytometry facility and high-speed centrifuges.
"The synergy between University and industrial researchers that
has brought prosperity to research partnerships in other states can be
energized in Delaware as well," Roselle said. "Delaware's chemical,
pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, partnered with the state's
research University, can produce similar economic stimulation and
growth."
The second priority request for the University, Roselle said, is
$130,000 to fund the salary and benefits for a women's crew coach and
the support costs associated with operating this extremely successful
club sport on the campus as a full varsity sport. One-time funding of
$170,000 also is sought to purchase equipment for the crew team,
including rowing shells, uniforms and a transportation van.
Support for women's crew will represent "a major step" in
bringing the University into compliance with federal Title IX
requirements designed to ensure equitable access to intercollegiate
sports based on gender, Roselle said. "This is a mandate that must be
met," he said, "and is one to which the University is committed on
principle.
"The addition of women's crew to the roster of varsity sports
creates a gender particpation funding ratio that more closely matches
enrollments and responds to the interest of a large number of women
who want to compete in crew at the varsity level," Roselle said.
In his presentation, Roselle also asked for legislative support
for two additional proposals designed to strengthen the state's public
schools, including:
* $221,500 for a University Library in the Schools Initiative,
to underwrite the equipment needed to provide within three
years to every public high school in the state direct access
to information included in the journals and periodicals in
the University library's data base, significantly enhancing
the depth and breadth of the state's public school
libraries; and
* $300,000 for a Teaching with Technology Initiative,
expanding on the number of UD faculty who make use of
multimedia presentations, specialized computer software and
access to the Internet as integral tools for teaching and
making training available to the state's public school
teachers so they can make comparable use of technology in
their classrooms.
The University's request also includes support
- for new positions in the Materials Science Program,
focusing on the emerging area of nanostructures- devices so
small they cannot be seen even with optical microscopes that
have application in communications, control of chemical
processes, manufacture and medicine;
- for new and expanding services provided by the College of
Urban Affairs and Public Policy to benefit local and state
governmental agencies and private nonprofit agenices;
- for the expansion of research in the Center for Composite
Materials; and
- for a Multimedia and Telecommunications Initiative, jointly
sponsored by the departments of Computer and Information
Sciences and of Electrical Engineering, expanding their
research capabilities in password and encryption
technologies and other security mechanisms of interest to
the state's banking industry.
Roselle also told legislators about the ways in which the
University's high quality of performance has been affirmed, both on
and off the campus.
He said UD programs routinely receive high marks from major
regional and professional accrediting agencies, such as the Commission
on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and
Schools, the American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business
and the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology, among
others.
Performance also can be measured by how well potential students
and their parents view the University, he said, noting that
applications have been increasing in recent years, with applications
for the fall of 1996 nearly 12 percent above last year at this time.
Graduation rate is another good indicator of performance, Roselle
said. Over the past decade, the UD has consistently graduated 70
percent of entering freshman cohorts, in contrast to the national
average of 53 percent at selective, public Ph.D. institutions.
"We retain and graduate students because the University of
Delaware experience is relevant to the needs and aspirations of our
students," he said.
A recent survey of graduates found that 93 percent were employed
or continuing their education, Roselle said, and a student opinion
survey administered last spring provides a look at satisfaction among
current students in a range of areas from programs, services and
academic components to student life, facilities and registration
components.
The 1995 student opinion survey showed student satisfaction at
higher levels than national averages and higher than in a 1990 UD
survey.
"The University stands tall on virtually any performance
indicator you might choose that is relevant to postsecondary
education-whether it be accredited excellence, persistence and
graduation rates or postgraduate placement," Roselle said.
"And, clearly," he said, "if performance is measured in terms of
student satisfaction with University programs and services, the
University of Delaware is well above average!"