CU legislative office to work on funding for construction projects
Improving higher education will be a major focus during the 2008 Colorado state legislative session that kicked off Jan. 9.
Presiding over the legislature is the newly elected President Peter Groff. Groff is the first African-American elected as president of the state Senate.
“Given the direction of this particular legislature, it has a commitment to higher education and I would expect (Sen. Groff) to continue with its initiatives,” said Alphonse Keasley, professor in the minority arts and sciences program.
In his State of the State address to the legislature on Jan. 10, Gov. Bill Ritter outlined his expectations for education reforms.
“Over the next 120 days, we must make real progress on education reform because too many of our students are unprepared for college or the 21st century workforce,” Ritter said in his speech.
Ritter announced his “Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids” during the speech, which will align educational standards from pre-school to college. The plan will set statewide standards for proficiency and learning.
Ritter also addressed state funding for higher education.
“From 2001 to 2006, no other state cut funding to higher education more than Colorado,” Ritter said. “The good news is we’re making progress. The Department of Higher Education is working closely with college presidents on a long-term funding strategy.”
CU’s Office of State and Federal Government Relations has been working tirelessly to prepare its legislative agenda for state lawmakers.
Hollie Stevenson, executive director of the office, said her team will work toward increasing funding for new buildings within the CU system.
According to its Web site, the office works to support CU by building partnerships between the university and the state and federal governments.
The office acts as an advocate for CU, developing and working with legislation at the state and federal levels.
“We’re going to work hard to get our capital construction projects approved,” Stevenson said.
Stevenson said the office will be working on a funding formula that will ensure CU receives an equitable share of capital construction funds.
“I feel like we are well-funded,” said Tricia Leitheiser, a freshman Spanish major. “The thing that comes to mind is the library.”
Leitheiser said that she thinks the library should receive more funding for newer, more current materials.
“There are enough people and resources to help us achieve what we need to, but newer materials would help,” Leitheiser said.
Leitheiser also said that funding for a wider variety of classes, such as classes that are offered both in the fall and in the spring, would improve the university.
New legislation, aimed at lowering the cost of college textbooks, is also expected to be introduced by Rep. John Kefalas and Sen. Ron Tupa later this month.
Visit the Colorado General Assembly Web site to listen to live audio from the legislative proceedings.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Katherine Spencer at Katherine.a.spencer@thecampuspress.com.
