Vol. 18, No. 11Nov. 12, 1998

Budget request to state focuses on partnerships

Partnership was the key word Nov. 9 as President David P. Roselle presented the University's F.Y. 2000 request for state appropriations to the governor's executive staff in Dover.

The budget request-which has as its top priority support for the University library and student scholarships-will enable UD to continue its close partnership with the state "in expanding the opportunities for and enhancing the quality of life of the citizens of Delaware and the region," Roselle said.

The requested state appropriation is for $102.9 million, representing an increase of $4.8 million, or 4.9 percent, over the current fiscal year allocation of $98.1 million.

Before detailing the University's request, Roselle endorsed the UDLib/Search project that is part of the state Department of Education's budget request. The project provides access to on-line journals and encyclopedias through the databases housed in the University's Morris Library and also provides training for public school teachers in the use of this teaching and learning resource by UD library personnel.

"The UDLib/Search program currently provides database access on every computer in every Delaware public high school and middle school library, classroom, computing laboratory and office," Roselle said. In all, more than 55,000 Delaware students have access to these resources, he said, and more than 700 teachers were trained in their use during the last school year.

Roselle called the UDLib/Search project's success "but one example of the power of partnership between the University and the state in serving" the citizens of Delaware.

Cooperative efforts "have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of Delawareans during the 1990s," Roselle said, "improving not only the level of service to our citizens but also the economy that allows them to prosper."

As in past years, Roselle said, the top-priority items in the University's budget request are library materials and scholarships.

A $200,000 request is to meet the inflationary pressures in the cost of library materials, where price increases continue to far exceed the Consumer Price Index. Last year, Roselle said, the typical journal subscription price was increased by 10.4 percent.

"In terms of dollars," Roselle explained, "this means the University will have to spend an additional $328,700 this year just to maintain the existing journal collection.

"This does not address the need for new volumes, journals, microforms and databases that are absolutely essential to a vital and vibrant academic library," he said. An additional $241,900 is requested for existing scholarship lines, including $48,200 for minority student recruitment, $42,600 in aid to needy students and $18,000 for the Governor's Scholars Program.

Roselle thanked Gov. Carper for his support of an initial installment of $250,000 in the current fiscal year to address the burden of unmet financial need among Delaware students and their parents. The request for a second $250,000 installment would be used to build toward a total $1 million pool by F.Y. 2002. Such a fund would be used to help "eliminate the burden of unmet financial need as well as excessive student loan indebtedness upon graduation," Roselle said.

Other requests include:

Roselle also outlined a new initiative in biotechnology at the University, seeking $320,000 in F.Y. 2000 from the state for eight faculty positions, particularly in the areas of plant and agricultural science, genetic engineering, tissue engineering and high throughput biological screening approaches. A similar request would be made in F.Y. 2001, he said.

"The state of Delaware is in an unusually favorable position to exploit opportunities in the area of biotechnology because of the presence of corporations that are capable of quite rapidly translating key advances from the laboratory to the marketplace," Roselle said.

"Done well," he said, "these developments will bring significant new revenue and employment to the state."

Roselle also sought support for:

Partnership for Enhancing Information Skills, an educational initiative intended to produce graduates of the College of Business and Economics who are exceptionally adept at the application of technology to solve problems, while at the same time providing service programs and courses to non-business majors to ensure their technological competence ($1,186,600).

Center for Disabilities Studies, which works to improve the quality, quantity and range of public and private services for the disabled by assisting agencies and individuals through in-service training ($100,000).

Hospitality and Tourism Research Center, which would carry out sponsored research and service projects on state, national and international issues related to tourism and the hospitality industry ($250,000).

In the University's capital funds request, Roselle said the top priority is for $4.5 million of a total $11.5 million request for the renovation of Townsend Hall, which houses offices and laboratories of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The project will include updating outdated mechanical, electrical and communications systems and addressing handicapped accessibility and life-safety code issues.

The second priority is for $3.5 million in one-time monies toward the renovation of the Carpenter Sports Building, home of the Department of Health and Exercise Science and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Services. Planned are improvements to the infrastructure that will meet program needs and code requirements, while updating the appearance of the building. Heavily used by students, faculty, staff, alumni and the community, the facility currently has insufficient accessibility and outdated life-safety, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

Roselle also requested $1.5 million for facilities renewal and renovation. "The University of Delaware has the state's largest and most aged campus facilities," Roselle said, "and facilities renewal is a crucial issue to support 21st-century educational practices."

In addition, UD's capital request includes:

-Mary Hempel