University of Virginia Library

Shannon Seeks Restoration
Of House-Cut Budget Funds

President Shannon Jr.
asked the House of Delegates
Monday to restore the million
it had cut from the University
maintenance and operation budget
request for the next two years.

Speaking before the House of
Delegates
Committee. President Shannon said
he was "concerned over the
consequences of possible tuition
increases to help budget cuts
at a time when all institutions are
striving to provide educational
opportunity to more of our young
people.

"What was presented in our
original budget requests had been
down many times within the
University," he said, adding that
the funds in the budget request
were based on guidelines from the
State Council of Higher Education.

President Shannon cited the
"sharp increases in enrollment with
the admission of women to the
College," which he said bring the
total projected enrollment in 1980
to 18,000 in arguing for restoration
of the $11 million cut.

He also noted that funds are
needed for the University's branch
colleges, saying, "With inflation
continuing at the rate of five to six
per cent each year, under the
proposed budget, the University
cannot maintain a competitive
position with comparable
institutions over the nation...in
Charlottesville, at George Mason
College and Valley College."

The University must fund 27
new teaching and research
instructional positions in the next
two years just to support the
doctoral program. President
Shannon noted in the
rising costs of graduate programs.
He also pointed out that unless
budget cuts are restored, Clinch
Valley College and Mary
Washington College will lose 17
faculty positions in the next two
years.

"The widespread attention given
by the press to the fact that new
capital outlay funds are largely
omitted from this budget has left
the mistaken impression that the
maintenance and operating requests
of the agencies and institutions has
been largely funded," President
Shannon said.