BISMARCK, N.D. - In a conference call meeting today, the State Board of Higher Education restated its support for two key initiatives included in the board's 2009-11 North Dakota University System budget request.

Funding to keep higher education affordable for students and equity funding to address campus priorities are omitted from SB 2003, the NDUS budget bill, in amendments adopted by the House Appropriations Committee, Education and Environment Division. The SBHE concurred on the urgency to oppose these amendments and sustain this funding.

"The State Board of Higher Education's 2009-11 budget request focuses on providing high-quality education at an affordable cost, in response to the needs of our students and our state," said Richie Smith, SBHE president. "These budget initiatives are vitally important to the future of higher education in our state."

An SBHE resolution and a position statement are attached.

SBHE Restates Support for 2009-11 University System Budget Initiatives