Nixon proposes health program, slashes MU Extension budget

Despite health care emphasis, the MU Extension budget takes a hit.

By Eva Dou

Published Jan. 30, 2009

Gov. Jay Nixon visited the MU School of Nursing on Thursday to discuss his hopes for a new health care training program.

However, his proposal was sobered by Wednesday's announcement of 50 percent cuts to state funding for MU Extension.

Speaking before a group of nursing students and faculty members, Nixon reiterated support for Caring for Missourians, the training program for future health care professionals he unveiled in his state of the state address Tuesday.

The program would channel $39.8 million in the state's 2010 budget to state two- and four-year institutions. This would train 916 new health care professionals over the program's first four years.

MU would receive around $9.4 million, equating to 81 additional future nurses, doctors and health care professionals.

Nixon said the program would alleviate shortages in the health care field while also combating unemployment, which is at a 25-year state high.

"At a time when 219,000 Missourians are unemployed, we are experiencing a shortage of health care professionals," Nixon said. "We need to coordinate the efforts of our four-year and two-year colleges and universities to address the shortage by producing more graduates who can move into these jobs."

The program would also support state schools, which Nixon had placed as one of his top priorities in his state of the state address.

Roxanne McDaniel, associate dean of the School of Nursing, said the program allows for increased enrollment, more faculty and expansion of facilities.

"Each year we have to turn away over 150 students who are qualified because we just don't have room," she said. "The hardest thing to have to do is to tell the students 'no.'"

Nursing student Brittany Waller agreed it was discouraging to see students denied because of limited space.

"It was frustrating because they have just as much heart and have worked just as hard," she said.

Kristofer Hagglund, interim director of the Master of Public Health Program, said the program could produce its first graduates in as little as two years.

The topic soon turned to Nixon's proposal to cut half of MU Extension's state funding. Many seemed surprised at the announcement, as Nixon pledged only a week ago to maintain the level of university funding in exchange for university officials' agreement not to raise student tuition.

"Budgets are about priorities," Nixon said.

He said the cuts were necessary, with the state facing shortfalls of up to $300 million.

Chancellor Brady Deaton said there might have been a misunderstanding about whether MU Extension is part of the university's core budget. He said it is.

"We were certainly surprised when that component of the budget came out," he said.

Sorting out MU Extension's budget may prove difficult, since much of its funding comes from matching grants, Deaton said. An $8 million grant from an organization may depend on $6 million matched by the university, for example.

MU Extension includes a wide range of community development, natural resource and continuing education programs.

Deaton said he has worked in extension programs "all his life," and he was concerned about all the employees in MU Extension.

The final decision about funding for MU Extension will be made by the General Assembly after a budget bill for higher education is proposed.