The Wyoming legislative session ended with more funds to the University of Wyoming for pay raises, university projects, and continuing construction. Among those projects were funds for Science Initiative and Tier-1 Engineering programs.
The Wyoming Legislature met for its biennial general legislative session from January 10 to March 3 to consider bills. During the 37 legislative days, the legislature considered many proposals that would affect UW.
Some of these proposals included SF 146 – State funded capital construction which appropriated $120 million for three university-specific projects. The legislation would allocate funds for building of new dorms, renovating the westside stands of War Memorial Stadium, and the renovations of Corbett Pool to ensure it is an indoor competition swimming pool. The bill was signed into law on March 17.
Mike Smith, UW Vice President for Governmental Affairs and Community Engagement, represents the university to the legislature. Smith believes that many appropriation bills will benefit UW.
“The money will ultimately impact students, like the adding of the new two towers for students will really benefit them. Faculty and staff raises help retain and attract the best staff and faculty members,” Smith said.
The legislature appropriated $12.27 million annually for faculty and staff raises which were a number one priority for the university, according to Smith. The process for distributing the raises remains in consideration by the Board of Trustees. Additionally, the outcome of the session appropriated $3.6 million for Science Initiative programming and $5.5 million for Tier-1 Engineering Initiative programming, annually.
The session also produced some controversial bills, including SF 109 – Prohibiting chemical abortions which went into law on March 17. The bill would ban abortion pills in the state which will prevent local pharmacies from filling prescriptions for them. Vice President Smith said that the university is a state agency and does not take positions on many individual bills.
“The university does not get involved in various political and policy matters,” Smith said.
“Students, faculty, and staff are welcome and have been involved. Not an official university position.”
Many students contacted by the Branding Iron said they were unaware of what occurred in the legislative session or that it had ended.
Additional appropriations for the university were made with $12 million for the university to complete unfinished space in the new Science Initiative Building and $7.5 million for the university to plan, develop, and complete an accredited physician assistant training program in the College of Health Sciences. Overall, Smith says the university administration feels accomplished with the session.
“For decades, the state has supported not just the infrastructure but programs, and people of the university, and we look forward to continuing to work with the state to ensure that we provide a product that the state can be proud of,” Smith said.
