2007 Key Legislative Priorities

 Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are encouraged to contact their respective House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia members to inform them how the key legislative priorities will further the academic and health care missions of VCU and the VCU Health System.  For your convenience, click here for a link to contact information for your elected representatives.  For a reminder of guidelines for taking public policy positions or offering public comments, please click here.

Base Adequacy Funding.  The General Assembly’s base adequacy funding model is used to identify the appropriate state funding level for each Virginia college and university.  The formula takes into consideration a number of factors, including enrollment growth, credit hours, and complexity of programs.  During the past two biennial budget cycles, the Governor and General Assembly have made a significant down payment on this funding shortfall.  Governor Kaine’s introduced budget adds $2.3 million in additional base adequacy funds for the second year of the current biennium.  Nevertheless, based on the legislative formula, VCU continues to be the Commonwealth’s most underfunded institution.  We will work with state decision-makers to maintain the current level of funding and promote a significant increase during the development of the 2008-2010 state budget.

Capital Construction.  Since the 2002 General Obligation Bond approval, state agencies, including VCU, have been advancing the capital construction projects through the state process.  During the past few years, the double-digit inflation for construction costs and materials has exceeded initial estimates.  The Governor’s introduced budget includes additional funding for projects at VCU, including the Medical Sciences II Building ($12 million) and the Music Center renovation ($1.7 million), among others.  VCU will work with the General Assembly to maintain this funding for these essential facilities.

Faculty and Staff Compensation.  Compensation for faculty and staff continues to be a high priority for VCU.  In order to improve morale, retain valuable employees and to attract higher quality personnel to VCU’s workforce, annual salary increases and benefits for faculty and staff are essential.  The current budget includes a 3% increase.  We will work with the General Assembly to maintain this increase and, if possible, obtain additional funding for pay raises in order to preserve competitive salaries with our peer institutions.   

Financial Aid.  The Governor’s introduced budget includes an additional $2.1 million in 2007-08 for need-based financial aid for in-state undergraduate students.  Nearly 70 percent of VCU students utilize some form of financial assistance.  Approximately 50 percent of VCU students are the first in their families to attend college.  This funding is critically important for these students from working families in Virginia to succeed in their academic and professional goals.

Veteran’s Center.  To date, approximately 600,000 men and women have been deployed in either Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom, of which approximately 5 percent list Virginia as their “home of record.”  The total number of veterans living in Virginia is 740,000, which is nearly 10 percent of Virginia’s population.  VCU will seek approximately $200,000 in funding to establish a Veteran’s Center.  The Center will have a statewide scope.  The Center, working with the Department of Veteran Services, will gather information which will identify those essential services needed to assist veterans’ family and relationship issues as well as employment as they re-assimilate into society.  Information gathered will be used to develop initiatives that state agencies can implement to assist these individuals.

If you have questions, contact Don Gehring (dcgehrin@vcu.edu) or Mark Smith (mesmith@vcu.edu). Our office phone number is: 804-828-1235.