Multi-Million Dollar Funding Increase Possible for UNI, UI and ISU

The Iowa Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a $34-million funding increase for the three state universities for the next fiscal year.

Of that, $8.2 million is slated for the , $11.8 million for the University of Iowa and $9.2 million for .

The increase is part of the overall education appropriations bill, which will now be open for a floor vote by the senate. If approved, it will go to the Iowa House of Representatives.

The proposed funding increase comes on the heels of massive and controversial budget cuts at UNI, including the planned closure of 58 academic programs, and the building. UNI leaders say the school is $5 million in debt this fiscal year.

For comprehensive coverage of the budget cuts, including the planned closure of Price Lab, visit the Cedar Falls Patch topic page. Get notified of the latest on Price Lab and other UNI news by signing up to the Cedar Falls Patch newsletter.

Senator Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, is on the appropriations committee.

"I get the general sense that there has been a wake-up call," he said. "It’s a shame that it took that to get people to pay attention. I believe there are legislators who are inclined to increase our investment in our universities, including the University of Northern Iowa."

The budget would increase state support for UNI’s general budget by $8.2 million, an 11 percent increase over last fiscal year. Beyond that increase, the bill also includes a $3 million increase in funding for the UNI-based STEM initiative to improve science, technology, engineering and math education.