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Action:  Visit, Call, or Write Your Massachusetts House Member.

Deadline:     Before the House version of the budget is complete:
                                 April 7, 2000.
 
Bring UMass into the House

Background: Tell your House member that a strong UMass is a priority for you and the citizens of the Commonwealth. Ask him/her to support full funding -- that's $497.8 million for the five campus system. This represents a $42 million increase over the current year's budget.

Now is the time for all UMass supporters to act. The House is working on its version of the state budget now. The recommendation will be completed by the end of March. Many Ambassadors have already promised to visit their House members. Make the same commitment, and show that UMass is a priority.

Massachusetts Ambassadors bring UMass into the House. How? By contacting your representative. You can visit the district office, write, email or call.

Why? Because the University of Massachusetts is a local issue in every district. Your contact brings this message home to your representative.

Acknowledge the good deeds done for UMass. If your legislator already supports UMass, then thank him/her and ask for continued support.

If you don't know your legislator's position on UMass…ASK. You are the best person to find out. This is an opportunity for you to tell why UMass is worthy of full funding. In the end, you may enlist another UMass supporter in the legislature.
 

The five-campus University of Massachusetts system requests an increase of $42 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 $42 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  $ 42,125,149* (9%)

Summary of FY 2001 Requested Budget Increase
 

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.

 

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