Governor: Higher ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯ βintegral partβ of job creation; USA students head to Montgomery in support of university funding
Posted on February 27, 2014
MONTGOMERY -- Thousands of university students, including a strong delegation from
the University of South ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯, converged on the statehouse today in support of funding
higher ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯.
The crowd at a morning rally enthusiastically and repeatedly answered a call for a
return to sending one-third of the Education Trust Fund to ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯βs colleges and
universities.
Gov. Robert Bentley promised his support, explaining that the mission of higher ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯
is crucial to his job-growth efforts.
βWhat weβre trying to do in this state is create more jobs, and higher ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯ is
an integral part of that,β Bentley told the group. βWe canβt do it without higher
³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯. β¦ It is important that we have more people in ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯ with higher ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯
training.β
The students traveled to Montgomery for Higher Education Day, an annual event organized
by the Higher Education Partnership, as the Legislature works to put together the
2015 budget.
A group of about 225 USA students, faculty and staff made the trip to the state capital,
where they attended the rally and met with legislators, including Speaker of the House
Rep. Mike Hubbard, who joined the University delegation for lunch.
βI do understand the value of higher ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯,β Hubbard said. βThere is no better
investment that we can make in terms of taxpayer dollars than higher ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯.β
The University of South ³ΙΘΛΏμ²₯ has an annual economic impact of about $3 billion,
with nearly 5,500 employees and $57 million in external contracts and grants in fiscal
2013. Student enrollment annually is more than 15,000.
