MSU makes impact at RNC

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Minneapolis — MSU’s vice president for governmental affairs brought a touch of Green and White to the Republican National Convention. Steve Webster helped lead a group of Michigan legislators on a tour Tuesday morning of the University of Minnesota, explaining the importance of state funding for universities.

The group toured a slew of state-of-the-art laboratories and science facilities, viewing what Webster calls a model for higher education funding. Michigan ranks last in the country for higher education funding and MSU only received a 1 percent increase from the state this year.

“(Minnesota) is probably the model state in America right now for the funding of higher education, including research, and general operating support from their state to the state universities,” Webster said.

State Rep. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale, said attending the tour gave him a better understanding of what can be done when universities have access to more money.

“It’s helpful to hear the legislative process that they go through, (it) kind of gives us a comparison to what we do in Michigan,” he said. “It’s helpful to see the buildings and to hear for instance that the infrastructure, the heating, the cooling, the ventilation is extremely important, very expensive, but if done right, it makes the building.”

Webster said it is important for legislators to see a campus such as the University of Minnesota, especially since the last building built on MSU’s campus by the state was in 1997.

Minnesota officials complained about buildings built that same year, calling them out of date.

“We’re afraid that we won’t be able to hold or attract our best scientists at Michigan State University,” Webster said.

He added that science research and development of research facilities is essential to rebuilding a struggling economy. Minnesota is proof, Webster said.

“As a result, you see a state that’s vibrant, the economy is growing,” he said. “It’s a state that looked very much like the state of Michigan’s economy 10 years ago. But they have invested heavily in science and technology.”

Webster did not travel to Denver last week for the Democratic National Convention, largely because of budget constraints that only allowed him to travel to one convention. He left the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night.

He said it is important to show Republican legislators the result of increased higher education funding since they are in control of the state Senate and the committee that appropriates funding for public buildings — the Capital Outlay Committee.

State Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, said it is important for Michigan to develop a process to build technology and infrastructure, but it must be assured to work for more than the three research schools in Michigan.

“I think that the aspect of the building is wonderful,” he said.

“The governance of Minnesota is different than the governance of Michigan, and I think what they have done with capital outlay issues of having a percentage each year going to the universities is good.”

The University of Minnesota’s main Twin Cities campus has about 38,000 undergraduate students — comparable to MSU. However, it is the only research university in the state.

Caswell said a priority for the legislature should be to create a long-range plan.

“Anytime you can go to another university like this and learn from what they’ve done, listen to what they’ve done and how they’ve done it, I think it’s helpful to connect as we set up plans,” he said.

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