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Classroom Instruction and Research Programs at Rutgers Need State Budget Support
Our proposal to RU administration to delay the implementation of full-time faculty salary increases until September 1 is predicated on the need to continue our advocacy in Trenton and thoughtfully review University budget priorities. Please write today!
We encourage you to write to Governor Corzine and state legislative leaders in order to defend our core mission, focuing on classroom instruction and research.
Last year Rutgers' faculty and staff successfully brought in $327 million in federal and private research grants. In spite of hard economic times, federal commitment to research has increased. This is a clear example of effective stimulus. Yet, it is important for our legislators to realize that the use of grant funds is restricted to research and cannot replace state funding for student instruction and infrastructure.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: State funding for Rutgers is necessary for successful competitive grant-seeking
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Increased state funding to support classroom instruction and research infrastructure is necessary for Rutgers faculty to secure federal and private research grants. These are competitive grants and other states are doing more to put their universities in a better position for success.
Last year Rutgers faculty and staff brought into New Jersey over $327 million in federal and private research grants (FY 2008). However, use of grant funds is restricted to research and cannot replace state funding for student instruction and infrastructure.
It is important that federal grant dollars brought in by faculty and staff at Rutgers are growing, even in hard economic times, because they provide good jobs with benefits and this, in turn, grows our state and local tax base. Research grants often lead to new products and technologies that increase our efficiencies, improve our health, and further stimulate the economy.
I urge you to apply federal stimulus dollars properly to higher education as outlined in the guidance from the United States Department of Education. Investment in Rutgers today will have an immediate impact on state tax revenues and economic growth. More importantly, it will allow thousands of working and middle-class students to start and finish their degrees.
The purpose of including higher education in the federal stimulus legislation was to avoid devastating budget cuts and layoffs and to mitigate the need for increasing in-state tuition. This is good policy and good for the economy.
Sincerely,
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