PRESS RELEASE

 

Higher Education Partnership

P.O. Box 761, Montgomery, AL 36101

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Gordon Stone, Executive Director - Higher Education Partnership

Phone: 334/220-2161   Fax: 334/832-9995

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Montgomery, Alabama- March 4, 2008 - 

 

Under the current Education Trust Fund budget proposal, the state's thirteen public universities will receive a 14 percent reduction in funding. Imagine the impact of a 20, 30 or 40 percent change in tuition. With a state that is already behind in the percentage of adults with college degrees, Alabama will suffer. The bottom line is that “Without Higher Education – There Is No Health Care,” “Without Higher Education – Business Becomes Less Innovative,’ and “Without Higher Education – K-12 Suffers.”

 

From outstanding educators, who specialize in secondary education to reader editorials found on the pages of USA Today, the message of the value of the universities to the average person is clear. Alabama must have productive and well-funded universities. According to Gordon Stone, Executive Director of the Higher Education Partnership, “The result of a fair and equitable investment in ALL of public education is an optimistic and promising future for tomorrow’s leaders in politics, education, business, health care, law, engineering, agriculture, building design, etc. Fair and equitable funding means the state’s best and brightest receive the knowledge, training and experience necessary to take the Alabama forward.”

 

The universities realize that the current crisis impacts all of public education. Alabama cannot ignore the calls of university leaders who are on record saying that they are willing to take an equitable share of the cuts. However, they are also on record proclaiming the danger of a 14 percent reduction in university funding compared to an unreasonable 3 percent reduction in K – 12 funding.

 

Fund all of the state’s education entities equitably and realize the benefits. “Funding of All of Education Equitably Allows Excellence to Occur” is the theme and the 2000+ attendees to Higher Education Day are lending their voices to the message. From Florence to Dothan and from Jacksonville to Mobile, every public university will be represented at the Alabama StateHouse in Montgomery. The rally starts at 11 a.m. on March 6, 2008.

 

For more information, call 334-220-2161.

                                                                                                               

DO NOT FORGET: HIGHER ED DAY IS MARCH 6, 2008 IN MONTGOMERY AT THE ALABAMA STATEHOUSE (11 AM). LET’S HAVE A CROWD! BE HEARD!

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Higher Ed Day - Tentative Agenda

 

10:00 a.m.       Students deliver “goodie bags” to legislators

10:30 a.m.       Bands begin to play (alternating songs until the rally begins)

                                Alabama State University Band Plays and Jacksonville State University Band Plays

 

11:00 a.m.       Troy University Chorus

                        Patriotic Music

 

11:05 a.m.       Rally Opens

.

Opening         

                        Mr. Gordon Stone - Executive Director - Higher Education Partnership

Introduction by Gordon Stone                       

                                                Jacksonville State University Band Plays – after intro & before the governor (est. 30 seconds)

                                                Opening Comments by the Governor     

                        Governor Bob Riley, State of Alabama (estimated 5-7 minutes)

                        Alabama State University Band Plays- after Governor (estimated 30 seconds)

Introduction by Gordon Stone

Welcome and Statement on the Benefits of Higher Education

Dr. Lori Owens, Chair - Higher Education Partnership, Jacksonville State University (estimated 3 – 5 minutes)

Jacksonville State University Band Plays – after remarks (est. 30 seconds)

Introduction by Gordon Stone

Comments from University President’s Council

Dr. Richard Holland, University of West Alabama (estimated 4-5 minutes)          

                        Alabama State University Band Plays -  after speaker (estimated 30 seconds)

.Introduction by Gordon Stone

Comments from Student Leaders

Mr. David Jennings, Jacksonville State University (estimated 3-5 minutes)           

                        Jacksonville State University Band Plays - after speaker (estimated 30 seconds)

.

Introduction by Gordon Stone

.

Comments from Distinguished Leaders (estimated  2-3 minutes each)

                            -      Lt. Governor Jim Folsom, State of Alabama 

                     -      Speaker of the House Seth Hammett, Alabama House

                     -      President Pro-Tempore Hinton Mitchem, Alabama Senate

                             -      Representative Richard Lindsey, Chair of the Education Finance and Appropriations Committee – Alabama House

                             -      Senator Hank Sanders, Chair of the Finance and Taxation Education Committee – Alabama Senate

                     -       Senator Jabo Waggoner – Alabama Senate

                     -       Representative Mike Hubbard – Alabama House

                             Alabama State University Band Plays- after Senator (estimated 30 seconds)

Wrap-up        -      Mr. Gordon Stone - Executive Director - Higher Education Partnership

                               Bands begin to play (two alternating songs by each for five minutes each - after rally)

.                    Jacksonville State University Band Plays and Alabama State University Band Plays

.                                                                                  

12:00 noon              Lunch

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