University of Colorado

A Message from the President

May 2014

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Legislature provides support for higher ed, Alzheimer's research

The 2014 legislative session wrapped up last week and, as I said in last month’s newsletter, I am grateful to Gov. John Hickenlooper, Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia and the legislators for the strong session and increased support for higher education. The state’s colleges and universities will receive $100 million in added funding, including $40 million in financial aid, which allowed the CU Board of Regents to approve the lowest tuition increase in a decade.

CU also received $54 million to go toward capital construction ($19 million is contingent upon revenue, which we will learn in September), including a much-needed $6.6 million in controlled maintenance.

Additionally, the Legislature provided what might seem like a relatively modest amount of funding, $250,000, for Alzheimer’s disease research at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Yet the commitment makes a strong statement. We are seeking designation from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) as an Alzheimer’s Research Center, replicating a national model where physicians and researchers collaborate to translate scientific advances into improved diagnosis and treatment while also keeping their eyes on the prize of preventing or curing Alzheimer's. There are 27 such centers around the U.S. The legislative support shows we are taking a team approach to the issue in Colorado, which should serve us well with our NIA application. Hickenlooper also wrote a letter expressing his support. We have had conversations with legislators about securing additional funding in legislative sessions next year and beyond.

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