Hoosiers for Higher Education
IU Advocacy
2011 Indiana General Assembly Campaign
Indiana University's 2011-2013 Biennial State Budget Request
The Indiana General Assembly will enact a new biennial budget during the 2011 legislative session. Securing state operating appropriations is IU’s top priority for the upcoming legislative session. Unfortunately, the state is still suffering from the national recession and faces a potential budget deficit in the first year of the biennium in a range of $750 million to $1.25 billion. Thus, the General Assembly faces significant challenges in crafting a state budget.
Indiana University recognizes that operating funding increases may not be possible. However in order to maintain basic operating costs over the next 2 years, IU has submitted a 4.2% budget increase. This percentage is based upon a state designated funding formula that includes IU's enrollment increases, the number of degrees IU issues annually, and the percentage of in-state students attending IU campuses. It is important to note that there is a lengthy process of presenting IU's budget to various legislative committees and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Each entity, plus the Governor's office, make their recommendations to the legislative body. At the conclusion of the session when the budget is finalized, these recommendations are taken into consideration to determine each budget for public higher education institutions.
We hope that appropriations for the Indiana Innovation Alliance, included in the current biennial budget, will be continued. This initiative involves adding medical students to each of IU’s statewide Centers for Medical Education and expanding program offerings from the first two years of medical school to all four years. In addition, the initiative provides funding for IU and Purdue University to pursue joint research collaborations.
IU has requested General Assembly authorization for several capital projects, all but one involving renovation of existing facilities:
All Campuses - General Repair and Rehabilitation ($64.6M): Indiana University requests $64 million in repair and rehabilitation funds to assist with maintenance of campus facilities and infrastructure to preserve both the state’s and IU’s investment in such facilities.
Bloomington Campus Academic Core Renovation and Infrastructure Improvements – Phase I ($57 million): IU proposes renovation of Owen Hall, Kirkwood Hall, Franklin Hall, and Swain West - four of the oldest and most historic buildings on campus.
Bloomington Campus Wells Library Renovation – Phase I ($30 Million): The Wells library, built more than 30 years ago, suffers from aging infrastructure and contains space that needs to be reconfigured to meet increased student use and to create a place that furthers the development of individual research on campus.
Indianapolis Campus Science Engineering Laboratory Building – Phase II ($22 Million): Recently the state approved plans for Phase I construction of a new sciences engineering laboratory building. Phase II will permit the completion of the facility and will provide additional laboratory/research space for new scientists, provide additional classroom space for students studying biology, biomedical engineering chemistry, engineering technology, and medicine.
Indianapolis Campus Van Nuys Medical Science Laboratory Renovation - Phase IV ($15 Million): This fourth and final renovation phase to this critical facility will bring the entire building, built in 1959, to a modern condition.
Multi-Campus Special R&R for Deferred Maintenance ($29 Million): This project will permit completion of 15 special repair and rehabilitation projects on regional campuses involving the most critical needs of the regional campuses. Proposed projects range from those relatively modest in scope such as roof and critical mechanical equipment replacement to major renovation of obsolete facilities.
IU Regional Campuses Showcase
On Tuesday, February 8, IU regional campuses will be on full display at the Indiana Statehouse. They will be sharing information about academic programming and achievement, community engagement and economic development impact in the areas of the state they serve. The showcase will take place in the North Atrium of the statehouse from 8:30am - 3:00pm.
Indiana Innovation Alliance
The Indiana Innovation Alliance joins together the efforts of academia, business, and government to strengthen Indiana’s assets in biosciences and life sciences.
While the state of Indiana is currently a national biosciences business leader, investment and employment in this industry are growing rapidly around the world. Boosting Indiana’s research sector is an economic and educational development priority that will keep Indiana competitive.
Learn more about the Indiana Innovation Alliance:
