New Year's greetings and welcome back to those of you who are returning to campus after semester break.
Few rites of January have more immediate impact on us than the Governor's State of the State address, the release of her budget proposal, and the opening of the Kansas Legislature in Topeka. Attention this session will be on resolution of the K-12 funding formula. Despite this understandable focus, the Governor recognizes that public education is a continuum from pre-school through graduate school. I appreciate that her budget continues to support fundamental commitments to higher education.
The Kansas economy has shown marked improvements over the past two years. The Governor's decision to increase the state's investment in higher education will extend this positive economic trend by creating an educated workforce that's prepared to do business in a global economy.
Here are the basics of the Governor's Fiscal Year 07 recommendations for higher education: a 4.03% increase in the state operating budgets for KU and other Regents institutions, which assumes a 2.5 percent salary increase for university employees; and funds to fulfill the final year of faculty salary enhancements promised in Senate Bill 345. Unfortunately, it does not include funds to address the large deferred building maintenance problems in the Regents system.
The Governor also called on the Legislature to support $5 million annually for the Kansas Cancer Initiative, led by the KU Cancer Center in partnership with hospitals, health providers and public health professionals throughout Kansas. This initiative is built on the clinical and research strengths of the Medical Center and the Lawrence campus.
Earlier this year, I identified KU's No. 1 priority to be the designation of the KU Cancer Center as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. The Governor and legislature's support is an important stepping stone that will demonstrate to the NCI a statewide commitment to cancer care and research. In pursuit of this priority, KU is strategically building on its core of interdisciplinary scientists and doctors and a network of health alliances statewide.
The Cancer Initiative is not an abstract issue. Many of us have lost a family member or friend to cancer and we work each day beside colleagues who have survived a cancer diagnosis. For us, it takes on personal significance that KU is working to establish nothing less than the best comprehensive cancer research, preventative care and treatment for our state and region. We are working hard to build the foundation for this dream; we hold great hope.
I will continue to update you periodically on the progress of the legislative session. In the meantime, I join you in focusing on a productive spring semester, as sunshine creeps back into our winter days.
Sincerely,
Bob Hemenway
Chancellor
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