Over the past several years, James Madison University and other Virginia public institutions of higher education have gone through challenging times. Public financial support for higher education has suffered due to sluggish state tax revenue and ever-increasing demands for state support from many sectors of public life. In order to maintain operations at an effective level, our public colleges were forced to repeatedly increase tuition and fees.

The results of these circumstances were not pleasant. Receiving only minimal salary increases over an extended period of time, numerous high-quality faculty members left JMU and other public universities for positions in other states. Without funds to hire a sufficient number of professors, most universities were unable to provide an adequate number of courses and sections to satisfy student demand -- extending the time required for graduation for many students.  As tuition increased throughout the state, Virginia's traditional emphasis on access to higher education for all qualified students became threatened.

Happily, there has been good news recently for JMU on two fronts --- both in public support and in private support for the university. 

Following a protracted and arduous session, the Virginia General Assembly approved a budget for the 2004-2006 biennium that includes a significant investment in public higher education. The budget contained the best financial news I have received during my presidency and represents a major step toward realizing the type of financial support that JMU deserves. 

I am particularly pleased that the General Assembly took some positive action toward addressing the need for salary adjustments among faculty and staff. Statewide increases approved by the legislature augmented by new funding at JMU will allow us to increase salaries an average of 6 percent for full professors and 5 percent for other faculty members. Administrators and staff members will also receive average salary
increases or bonuses of 4 percent. Salaries for our talented faculty and staff are still less than what they should be, but this certainly represents a solid
first step.       

Additional operating funds were also provided to JMU, allowing us to take important steps toward hiring new faculty and staff, increasing library support, providing financial aid to students and supporting various other operational needs.

Support from the Commonwealth of Virginia is important to JMU, but the role of private funding is growing rapidly in significance. Even though our university is approaching its centennial, we have unfortunately not developed the culture of private support that is traditional at many other Virginia universities. We are rapidly changing that culture, and our alumni and friends have rallied to the cause of supporting their university. 

With an intensified program of private fund raising, we have seen gifts to the university continually increasing. All gifts are important, but it is most significant that JMU, founded in 1908, achieved only modest success with major gifts throughout the 20th century. But, in the first few years of the 21st century, we have seen repeated occasions of seven-figure gifts. Private support can be seen in the development of several major new facilities on campus, academic support programs, JMU's first endowed academic chairs and the continuing enhancement of funds available for students -- both those with financial need and those with exceptional talents and promise.

Much has been done but much remains to be done. JMU's academic programs are still under funded by an estimated $21 million -- around 15 percent. To close that gap, we must have a sufficient mix of public and private dollars that will allow us to keep tuition at a level that does not prevent outstanding students from acquiring a JMU education.

The need for appropriate funding is a reality of life, but we should never forget that the driving factor for JMU's needs is not salaries or operational costs or buildings. It is students, the young men and women who will lead our nation in the future. We must maintain the ability to continue providing the Madison Experience -- preparing educated and enlightened citizens who have the potential to transform society into a better place.

Linwood H. Rose

President