Here are a number of stories and issues that have caught my eye this week that should be of some interest to the UW.
Massachusetts Upping the Life Sciences Ante
Governor Deval Patrick has made regaining Massachusetts life sciences research prominence the cornerstone of his economic development agenda. It appears at least one chamber of the General Assembly agress with him. By a vote of 31-7, the Senate passed a $1 billion package of tax breaks and direct appropriations designed to push the state back into a national leadership position in life sciences. One of the biggest winners is the UMass-Amherst, a UW Global Challenge competitor school who will get $95 million for a new life sciences research building. Here’s the full story from the Boston Globe.
Colorado Businesses Opposed to Scholarship Plan
Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado wants to put a lot more money into higher education. The problem for some is that he wants the money to go towards college scholarships rather than improving programs within the state’s universities. According to the Denver Post, Ritter wants to repeal an existing tax credit for oil and gas industries and use the funds to dramatically expand financial aid for low and middle income students. Business groups seem to be opposed and higher education leaders are disappointed at least some of the new funds are not going directly to their schools.
Rutgers Football Stadium Funding Back on Track?
Looks like Governor John Corzine is back to helping Rutgers University (another UW Global Challenge competitor institution) with their plans to raise funding for a $102 million expansion of their football stadium. Last winter, Corzine pulled the plug on using state funding to pay for a portion of the stadium expansion due to the state’s budget crisis, but pledged to personally help raise money to replace the $30 million the university was seeking from the state. Here’s the story from the Star-Ledger.
More on Western Washington’s Presidential Transition
Pretty lengthy and thoughtful article in Crosscut on the upcoming presedential transition at Western Washington and an assessment of President Karen Morse’s 15-year tenure written by former Western professor Floyd McKay.