Vol. 18, No. 19	Feb. 11, 1999

UD officials ask legislators for additional state support

Partnerships between the state and the University of Delaware were the focus of President David P. Roselle's request Feb. 9 for an additional $1.285 million in state support over the governor's recommended $5.1 million increase for F.Y. 2000.

"The University of Delaware is one of the state's truly priceless assets," Roselle told the legislators. "The continued growth and strengthening of the partnerships between the University and the state have significantly increased the value of that asset, especially in terms of its service to the citizens of Delaware and the region.

"Today," Roselle said, "we ask your favorable consideration of several additional initiatives designed either to assist UD in providing more highly skilled graduates for Delaware employers or to provide better services and information in support of improving our state's economy and environment."

Before detailing the UD's request for support as additional funds become available, Roselle expressed strong support for the governor's recommended budget and urged ratification of it. "While it does not contain all of the items the University requested to expand and enhance its service to Delaware," Roselle said, "it is nonetheless a thoughtful and comprehensive budget recommendation for the University."

The University's request to the Joint Finance Committee includes:

• $100,000 for computer-aided instruction in the College of Arts and Science, the University's largest college, to ensure that graduates have strong computing skills and are better-prepared in a variety of fields, including secondary education, laboratory science, the arts, pre-law and pre-medicine and social services.

• $200,000 for agricultural environmental quality, to support two new positions-a watershed engineer/hydrologist and an extension associate-who would develop and assist the public with practices to improve water quality in the Delaware watershed.

• $75,000 for personnel and additional support for 4-H programs throughout Delaware.

• $45,000 for an additional ITV technician to fully facilitate the operation of the interactive instructional television network that now links the main campus in Newark, the Higher Education Building in Georgetown and the Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. This network has enabled UD to substantially increase its course offerings in Southern Delaware.

• $50,000 for poultry disease research in UD's state-of-the-art Allen Laboratory, directed at protecting Delaware's poultry industry-a major component of the state's economy.

• $25,000 to meet increased demand for local government assistance by the University's Institute for Public Administration, assisting municipalities and townships with such issues as how to better use technology to deliver government service, while also fostering intergovernmental cooperation.

• $50,000 for the Center for Energy Environmental Policy Research within the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy to provide better and more timely information in support of decisions directed at enhancing Delaware's environment.

• $50,000 to expand the work of the Soil Testing Laboratory.

• $100,000 to hire an irrigation engineer and provide support to develop and evaluate best management practices, particularly in Southern Delaware.

• $100,000 to expand agricultural research and education.

• $100,000 to support UD's Center for Disabilities Studies, which works to improve the quality, quantity and range of public and private services for disabled persons by assisting agencies and individuals via in-service training, program development and evaluation as well as providing technical assistance on the design of service systems.

• $100,000 for the Health Policy Research Center, a collaboration between faculty and staff in the colleges of Health and Nursing Sciences and of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy to assist the state in meeting health policy and health services delivery.

• $250,000 to support a new Hospitality and Tourism Research Center in the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy, which would carry out research and service projects on issues related to this increasingly important component of the state's economy.

• $40,000 to support one-half of the cost of an algal physiologist, to improve the scientific data needed to assess the impact of humans on estuaries, coastal waters and watersheds.