By Catherine Conkle Cavalier Daily Associate Editor The Finance Committee of the Board of Visitors approved the University's 2006-2008 budget proposal Tuesday. If approved by Gov. Mark R. Warner, the budget would increase funding for graduate students, building maintenance and development of scientific programs.
The BOV submission would increase the average stipend provided to graduate students to approximately $16,000. According to Colette Sheehy, University vice-president for Management & Budget the increase is an effort to both cover the average cost of living in Charlottesville and to attract potential graduate students, especially in the social sciences areas of study, to the University.
"Stipend levels here are not competitive with peer institutions," Sheehy said. "It really impacts the humanities and social sciences because the graduate students in the sciences get supported better than the social sciences."
Additionally, Sheehy said the Finance Committee is requesting an increase in funds to pay for maintenance of the University's many historic buildings, as the current funds are inadequate in preserving the significant structures.
"The University is unique in that it has 60 buildings that are over a hundred years old," Sheehy said.
The Finance Committee also is requesting improved financial support to scientific programs, including the Virginia 21st Century Medicine Research Fund and the Virginia Commonwealth Partnership for Engineering Transformation and Economic Success, or COMPETES.
According to Sheehy, the 21st Century Program would increase funding to attract faculty who specialize in replacing diseased cells using regeneration as well as provide them state-of-the-art facilities. The COMPETES program would work with the Engineering School, the Curry School of Education and the McIntire School of Commerce to provide engineering instruction in all levels of education, including grade school.
The University must submit a budget every two years to the state's Department of Planning and Budget. The proposal will be reviewed by the governor, who will incorporate items he approves into his state budget, which he will present to the General Assembly in December.
Ultimately, the representatives of the Board of Visitors said budget decisions are left up to the state government.
"The changes are going to depend a great deal on what the state does," Board member Alan A. Diamonstein said. "And hopefully we can convince the state to make the appropriate appropriations to the University."
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