UNI Legislative Update
The Office of Governmental Relations provides legislative updates to the campus community through online communication and bimonthly campus presentations. These updates will inform faculty, staff and students of hot topics facing the legislature and legislative actions affecting UNI and the Regents institutions.
March 31, 2008
Grassroots action at its finest!
The following is an email from a UNITE member to Senator Frank Wood of Eldridge. Senator Wood is also the co-chair of the all important Education-Appropriation subcommittee. This is another terrific letter that can be used as a example if you are running into difficulties writing a letter/email of your own.
Dear Senator Wood,
In February 2007, the Board of Regents asked UNI President Ben Allen and UNI to lead a Board of Regents Mathematics and Science Education Collaborative together with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. The Board of Regents office directed UNI to coordinate a fiscal year 2009 legislative appropriations request for the math and science education initiative. A request of 5.5 million dollars was made by UNI. Governor Culver scaled this amount back to approximately 4.7 million dollars in his budget. This proposal is a Regents priority.
As a member of the board of directors of the UNI Alumni Association, I have been fortunate enough to have attended some presentations of this group. They have been tasked with a challenging but achievable endeavor for the greater good of Iowa's economic future. Properly trained math and science educators are in short supply in the state of Iowa. The ability to produce the type of employee needed for an increasingly more advanced workforce will become more difficult as less people become qualified to teach the solid fundamentals needed for those positions.
The initiative has identified three goals to create the foundation for a sustainable math and science education initiative in Iowa. Those goals are:
- Improve mathematics and science performance of Iowa's students
- To prepare more high quality teachers in the areas of mathematics and science
- Promote statewide collaboration cooperation
However, today I learned the appropriations request needed to continue this important work was completely left off the budget facing the General Assembly. I ask you to make sure the work of this initiative will continue. Please make sure this effort is funded. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Name
Address
Senator Wood's response to the UNITE member...
UNITE Member,
I feel the STEM program is very important, but it was very difficult to find funding to a new program when we had very little new monies to the budget. I know that I have spoken to our leadership and asked them for assistance as well.
Senator Wood
Great work and let's keep the communication flowing!