University of Virginia Library

Shannon Seeks More State Funds

By MIKE GARTLAN

University officials traveled to the
State Capital yesterday to ask the General
Assembly for additional capital outlays
for construction and to warn legislators
that the governor's recommended
cutbacks in the University's general fund
requests will severely curtail graduate and
research programs.

In a prepared statement read to a joint
meeting of the House Appropriations
Committee and the Senate Finance
Committee, President Edgar F. Shannon
Jr. asked that state funds for the
"critically needed". Medical School
Library and Information Center be
included in University's 1972-74 budget.

In requesting the money, Mr. Shannon
lowered the University's request for state
funds by $1.1 million and indicated that
newly appropriated federal money is
being sought for use on a 50 percent
matching basis with state money bond
issue capital and alumni contributions to
meet building costs:

If appropriated, the state funds would
increase potentially available funds to
$3.3 million.

Mr. Shannon also pointed out that
Governor Holton's recommended $9.6
million cutback in general funds requests
"will greatly reduce the percentage
support for graduate programs."

He explained that the cutback would
mean a loss of $8 million for teaching and
research programs which, he explained,
"are such key function at the
University."

He added that, despite University
efforts to remain competitive with its
"peer" institutions in faculty salaries and
graduate programs, "we have actually lost
ground—from 33rd among the states in
1968 to 36th in fiscal 1971—in per capita
state funds for operating expenses."

"The budget Governor Holton has
proposed is far below our own request for
funds," Mr. Shannon explained and ". . .
the minimum required if we are to meet
our academic and intellectual
commitment to the state and nation."

Mr. Shannon also asked approval of
the Governor's recommended funds for
the construction of the new Graduate
School of Business Administration to
complete the University's building
program near Copley Hill.

He pointed out that the State had
already awarded the contract for the new
School of Law and the completion of the
new business school will complete the
major facilities authorized in the 1968
bond issue.

Mr. Shannon also asked for an
appropriation for the James Monroe Law
Library and matching funds to administer
the State's Title I Program.

During his presentation, Mr. Shannon
was questioned by committee members
about the number of teaching faculty at
the University and their salaries. House
Appropriations Committee Chairman
Roy W. Smith (D-Petersburg), in a speech
on January 27, had also asked why
average faculty compensation at the
University was higher than that paid at
UNC, Vanderbilt, Tulane, Rice, U. of
Texas and Texas A&M.

Answering the committees' questions,
Mr. Shannon pointed out that the
University's salary averages were below
many of named schools and only through
the use of private endowments and
fringe benefits was the University able to
remain competitive in average faculty
compensation.