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12.05.07 - Gov. Matt Blunt, R-Mo., announced today he will submit a supplemental higher-education budget request for $15 million in January 2008, to the Missouri General Assembly. The money would complete construction of the UMKC Health Sciences Building (HSB).
This funding was originally included in the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative of last spring. Legislative opposition to the possible use of the new laboratories for embryonic stem cell research forced it to be cut in February. A compromise deal permitted the approval of the bulk of the state-wide education bill funded by the partial sale of Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) assets.
"What held us up last time was the lack of support from local area legislators," Blunt said. "If local area legislators will embrace this proposal, I see virtually no problem with getting it passed."
Speaking to an enthusiastic audience of Pharmacy and Nursing professors and students gathered in an unfinished room on the fifth floor of HSB, Blunt said he wanted to see Missouri students reach their full potential by studying in world-class learning centers.
"When complete, this project will provide over 34,000 square feet of additional instruction space, as well as new lab space and a state-of the-art animal research center," Blunt said. "Just as importantly, it will increase capacity for UMKC to produce more pharmacists and more nurses to help meet vital health care needs throughout the K.C. region and across the state."
Blunt said the funding would require no new taxes, as the strength of the growing economy would cover the cost.
He voiced optimism regarding the timeline, and said supplemental appropriations tend to pass fairly early in the legislative session.
UMKC Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Leo Morton said he was excited about the role UMKC plays in providing health care in the region.
"This is probably one of the soundest investments the state can make to insure the future and well-being of the community," Morton said.
Before Blunt took the podium, UMKC Chancellor Dr. Guy Bailey praised Blunt's higher-education initiative as historic.
"The Lewis and Clark Initiative is one of the most creative and imaginative uses of the resources of the state that I've ever seen," Bailey said. "It increases student financial aid from $26 million to $72 million."
Blunt gave more figures. He said 13 colleges and universities around the state, as well as a number of community colleges, are already putting $250 million in allocated capital to work.
"Just to get a sense of how it affects this campus, UMKC previously had about 300 students receiving about $300,000 in needs-based aid in a year," Blunt said. "Just in this semester, about 450 students have already received more than $640,000 - a very substantial increase."
School of Pharmacy Associate Dean Dr. Mary Euler, on hand for the event, said she was thrilled.
"We're hopeful that, by this time next year, all of our faculty will be here," Euler said. "We have had a number of local legislators come through the building. They're very impressed and I think they support the building.
"I think if they can just keep it clean and just keep it focused on this one issue [it will pass]. That's the secret this time."
dsimons@unews.com
