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Shape the Debate: Contact your Senator now!

As the Massachusetts Senate considers the Commonwealth’s FY 2001 budget, Ambassadors have the opportunity to shape the debate! How can you make a difference? Get involved!

How the process works

At the beginning of the year, Governor Cellucci proposed a budget increase of just under one million dollars for the five-campus UMass system. In February and March the Massachusetts House of Representatives took up the governor’s budget proposal and developed their own recommendation.

The Senate is reviewing the House recommendation for the FY 2001 state budget. They are expected to debate their version and report out in May. If the House and Senate versions are different (and they usually are) the final spending plan will be worked out in a Conference Committee.

This is the critical time to get in touch with your Senator.

Successful Senate contacts

It’s easy to get in touch with your legislator to let him or her know you support UMass. Whether by telephone, letter, email, or personal visit --share your opinion about higher education and your support for UMass.

Follow these three simple steps for any successful contact:

• Tell the legislator that you live and vote in his or her district.
• Share your story— describe your personal connection to UMass and why it’s important to you.
• State your support for UMass and suggest some action for the legislator to take.

An effective written message which follows proper etiquette begins like this:

The Honorable [First name, Last name]

State House

Boston, MA 02133

Dear Senator [Last name]: I’d like to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support…

You can reach legislators at the State House on weekdays during the legislative session. Or, simply call the State House receptionist at (617) 722-2000.

To find out which legislators represent your district, visit the official homepage of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/.

Follow the "Search databases" link to the option "Where do I vote? Who are my elected officials?" Or call the Ambassadors Network at 800-772-6155.

UMass’ Physical Needs

According to our Capital Plan, the Amherst campus faces three categories of needs:

Deferred maintenance—When repairs aren’t addressed promptly, it often results in more costly damage. Chronic under-funding of the capital budget has resulted in the deterioration of campus facilities.

Modernization—Older facilities must incorporate new technology and meet current codes. Examples include: wiring classrooms and dorms to the Internet; removing asbestos and lead paint; and complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title IX. (Title IX prohibits gender discrimination in federally-funded education, including athletics programs.)

New construction—The Amherst campus needs new instructional, laboratory and athletic spaces, and a new power plant.

There’s No Time Like the Present

Right now is an excellent time to bring up this issue with your Senator. When you visit or contact your legislators, ask them to support:

Facilities funding for UMass—through the University’s operating budget and/or additional appropriations.

Minor changes to public construction laws— Under current laws a new building can take more than a decade to complete. Red tape on renovation projects limits the University's ability to care for existing facilities. UMass and the taxpayers will both benefit if construction on campus becomes more efficient.

The Electoral Angle

Massachusetts state legislative elections are coming up in November, and there is no better way to pique a candidate’s interest than to hold a candidates’ coffee hour. These informal gatherings bring all candidates from a given district together and inform them that UMass is a critical election issue in that area. The more alumni and friends who voice their interests, the more likely the candidate will respond with energy and enthusiasm for UMass on the campaign trail (and on the House or Senate floor).

If you are unable to host your own candidates’ coffee hour, be sure to attend one organized by your local UMass alumni club or other advocates. Even if there is no UMass forum in your area, visit the candidates wherever they appear and ask them their positions on public higher education in Massachusetts.

Close the loop

Whatever you do to help build a stronger UMass—contacting or visiting legislators, hosting or speaking with candidates—let us know! We welcome and encourage all feedback from our Ambassadors. Together we can shape the debate!

UMass FY 2001 State Budget Request

The five-campus University of Massachusetts system requests an increase of $46 million from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in FY 2001. This increase will cover salary increases, strategic priorities and inflation.

Full funding of the UMass Budget request will enable the Amherst campus to:

Continue drawing the best & brightest students. The three-year old University Scholars program awards annual scholarships of $8,000 to top-ranked students from high schools and community colleges in Massachusetts for study at one of the five UMass campuses. More than 75 percent choose UMass Amherst. When the program is fully populated it will cost the Amherst campus $4 million annually. To maintain the University Scholars as part of a comprehensive financial aid program, UMass needs additional resources.

Take pride in our facilities. According to a recent facilities audit, the deferred maintenance backlog on the Amherst campus is more than $300 million. In many classrooms the needs are as basic as replacing broken chairs, projection screens and light fixtures. And as any homeowner knows, time is money: prompt repairs to roofs and windows can prevent further damage to ceilings and floors. Full funding of the UMass budget request will begin to address the facilities needs on the Amherst campus.

Invest in an excellent library. "A great University needs a great library, a mediocre one does not. It is as simple and crucial as that." These words are as true today as they were when Trustee Barney Troy spoke them in 1974. To remain on par with its peers, UMass must build its collections of books, journals, electronic products, and multi-media. As a public research library, the UMass library serves the information needs of undergraduates and citizens and the advanced research needs of graduate students and faculty. Consistent, growing investment is needed to maintain the excellence of the UMass library.

Keep pace with our own success.

Student yields—the number of accepted students who choose to attend UMass Amherst—have exceeded targets for the past three years. The University’s academic reputation, great value and competitive financial aid package are drawing more and more students to campus. We welcome these larger classes but are hard-pressed to meet their needs. Resources are needed for faculty, teaching assistants and lecturers to accommodate a growing student body.

Leverage research dollars. It has become common for federal research grants to require preliminary results before providing a funding stream for faculty research. A vigorous research agenda is critical to the campus and enhances the quality of the undergraduate education. Research forms criteria for national rankings, is a key factor in attracting faculty, and provides hands-on learning for scores of students. UMass must provide seed money so that faculty can secure research grants.

UMass FY 2001 State Budget Request Summary

The five-campus University of Massachusetts system requests an increase of $46 million from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in FY 2001. This increase will cover salary increases, inflation and strategic priorities.The University’s base budget for FY 2000 is $455,729,800.

UMass Operating Budget

Requested Increase $ 46,054,898* (10%)

Requested Budget $ 501,784,698

Summary of FY 2001 Requested Budget Increase

1. FY 2001 Wage Increase Costs $17,420,282 2.

2. University-Wide and Campus Strategic Priorities $25,697,376

Priorities on the Amherst campus include the University Scholars program; repairs and improvements to facilities; the W.E.B. Du Bois Library; responding to enrollment increases; expanding undergraduate research opportunities; and providing seed money for faculty research.

3. Inflation (2.2%) on Non-Personnel Expenditures $2,937,240

Total UMass System Requested Increase (1+2+3) $46,054,898

Commonwealth College

Commonwealth College is the honors college of the University of Massachusetts, located on the Amherst campus. (Commonwealth College is a distinct academic program not synonymous with the University Scholars program.) A separate request is submitted to the legislature for Commonwealth College. Commonwealth College’s base budget for FY 2000 is $1,750,000.

Requested Increase $ 391,000

Requested Budget $2,141,000

The Volunteer is an occasional publication of Advocacy Programs, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The Ambassadors Network/Advocacy Programs
University of Massachusetts Amherst
390 Whitmore Administration Building
Amherst, MA 01003
800-772-6155

Lynne Marie Wanamaker, Coordinator of Advocacy Programs
lwanamaker@urd.umass.edu

Cheryl L. Dukes, Assistant Coordinator of Advocacy Programs
cdukes@urd.umass.edu

Lori W. Schwartz, Graduate Assistant

Volume 2, Issue #2 April-May 2000