THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 27, 1996 TAG: 9603270408
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
In a legislative session that had colleges cheering, Old Dominion University emerged as one of the biggest winners.
ODU is expected to get a 17 percent increase in state funding - or about an extra $16 million - for educational programs during the next two years. That's a bigger boost than any other doctoral school in Virginia, according to recently calculated figures.
``I think this might have been the best year in our history'' in the legislature, said ODU President James V. Koch.
ODU officials have argued that the school, which has accommodated large enrollment increases in recent years with no additional state aid, has been underfunded. State figures show that ODU now gets $3,440 per student a year, less than any other doctoral school except George Mason University's $3,378.
``Most of us regarded this (the increase for Old Dominion) as an effort to catch up, to narrow the disparity gap'' among colleges, said Sen. Stanley C. Walker, D-Norfolk, co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
Koch said, ``We're still not funded as well as other doctorals yet, but we made a lot of progress.'' Estimates for per-student funding have not yet been calculated for the next two years.
Overall, the General Assembly this month proposed a two-year increase for funding for higher education of 13 percent, or slightly more than $200 million. Much of that money will pay for faculty raises and technology. That amount doesn't include increases designated for construction.
Gov. George F. Allen is expected to approve the budget proposal.
After straining through years of budget cuts in the early '90s, colleges and their advocates applauded the proposed increase.
``It was very clear that the General Assembly was interested in doing something to help higher education,'' said Til Hazel, the Northern Virginia businessman who led a campaign to boost college spending. ``It became equally clear that the state's financial resources are very thin, and consequently when we got $220 million or so of additional money, that represented a significant commitment to higher education, because there wasn't a lot more money to get.''
The average increase for doctoral institutions is 13.3 percent, according to an analysis by the State Council of Higher Education. George Mason was second in line, with a 15.6 percent increase. The University of Virginia was lowest, at 11.4 percent.
Among other four-year schools, Christopher Newport University - led by a new president, former U.S. Sen. Paul S. Trible Jr., and championed in Richmond by Del. Alan A. Diamonstein, D-Newport News, - held sway, with a 20.9 percent funding increase, amounting to nearly $5 million.
Norfolk State University won a 14.7 percent increase, which is also the average jump for all nondoctoral four-year colleges. For Norfolk State, that means an extra $6.1 million over the next two school years.
``It's a whole lot better than what we started out with, a great deal better, especially where faculty salaries are concerned,'' said Norfolk State's president, Harrison B. Wilson.
Like ODU, Norfolk State has said it has been underfunded. State figures show Norfolk State receiving $2,815 a year in 1995-96. Only two of Virginia's 14 other four-year, state-supported schools get less: James Madison University ($2,668) and Mary Washington College ($2,800).
Norfolk State's overall increase included $1 million earmarked to help erase funding disparities.
``I'm appreciative of what we've got, but at the same time it still leaves us $2.5 million behind'' the average annual funding for nondoctoral schools, Wilson said. ``We need that money, and we're going to go after it next year.''
The universities also won approval from the legislature for two big projects: a joint campus in Virginia Beach and ODU's redevelopment plan for eastern Hampton Boulevard. Neither project will require state funding.
Old Dominion and Norfolk State plan to build an 84,000-square-foot campus near Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach. Their center on Little Neck Road, opened in 1988, now attracts 4,000 students a year. Officials say a full-fledged campus could draw 7,000. The campus would be financed by a bond sale. Koch said it wouldn't be complete until 1998.
For ODU, legislators specifically authorized a $40 million convocation center and a $10 million parking deck.
An arena that would seat 10,000 would be the cornerstone of the expansion project, and would be used for basketball games, concerts and graduations. ODU would pay for it primarily through student fees. Koch said it will not be ready until at least 2000. MEMO: THE BIG PICTURE
For students, the highlight of the 1996-98 budget was the
legislators' proposal, supported by Allen, to freeze tuition for the
next two years for Virginia residents. But colleges themselves also won
some big victories, though not everything they sought.
Faculty raises: The legislators approved average increases of 5
percent in 1996-97 and 2 percent the following year. Colleges had argued
that stagnant raises in the early '90s could trigger an exodus of
professors.
``Students that are here now may not be affected too much by this
budget,'' said Jonas Geissler, the student president at the College of
William and Mary, ``but with higher faculty salaries, we'll be able to
attract better faculty in the future.''
Bonds for buildings: The General Assembly has proposed issuing $163
million in bonds to finance 32 construction projects on campuses. They
include a $12.2 million center to expand ODU's Teletechnet program of
televised courses, a $5 million performing arts center at Christopher
Newport and a $1.7 million addition to NSU's maintenance building.
The legislature also approved $8.8 million in direct funding for
other construction. That includes $1.25 million to upgrade W & M's Swem
Library, a sorely needed project, according to Geissler. ``It's dark and
easy to get lost. It's difficult to find books even with the new
computer system.''
Financial aid: Legislators turned down requests for increases in
allotments for financial aid, reasoning that the tuition freeze
eliminated the need for more aid. However, they increased the amount of
Tuition Assistance Grants, which are awarded to about 13,000 Virginians
who go to private colleges in the state. The grant, now $1,500, will
increase to $1,750 in the fall and to $2,000 in 1997-98.
KEYWORDS: BUDGET ODU GENERAL ASSEMBLY by CNB