Thousands of students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends of the University of Minnesota firmly believe in the mission of the U and higher education's role in our economy.
Minnesota's citizens must ensure that the U can continue to teach future leaders, healers, engineers, and entrepreneurs; reach out and engage with communities throughout the state; and conduct research that changes lives and sometimes saves them.
Engaging in the political process, participating in campaigns, and voting in elections are key ways to secure the future of higher education in Minnesota.
As supporters of the U, it is our duty to make sure that elected officials in Washington, D.C., and Saint Paul are aware of the importance of higher education and the U.
The University of Minnesota:
A strong U requires sustained state support in order to:
The right to vote is the foundation of our system of government. Without voting and free and fair elections, democratic society would cease to exist.
More than 200 million U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in the 2012 elections. Millions of Americans will sign a ballot for the first time. Millions more will return to their polling places to cast their votes again. Minnesota has a strong tradition of voter participation—the state consistently leads the nation in voter turnout.
Elected officials are your voice in the political process. Your vote can influence how issues that matter to you are decided. By casting your vote, you can send a message to candidates that the University is an important asset to Minnesota, its people, and its economy.
The governor and legislature make decisions that affect the University, its students, and its research. Approximately 7.5 percent of Minnesota's biennial budget goes to higher education. The U's share of that state appropriation covers 17.9 percent of the overall University budget. Typically, the state funds capital projects on the U's campuses every two years. These projects allow the U to deliver on its mission of teaching and learning, research and discovery, and outreach and engagement.
In 2010, federal government agencies awarded more than $440 million dollars in competitive grants to the University for its research.
U researchers used those funds to map the brain's circuitry, explore neurological diseases, improve solar cells, fight wheat disease, and more.
Federal support is also the key to a U of M education for students of modest means. Last year, 25 percent of undergraduates from all five University campuses received federal funds.
The U's Extension Service receives federal funding that supports its work to improve Minnesotans' quality of life in local communities.
We encourage you to talk to the candidates in your area about the importance of the U and higher education in Minnesota. With your vote, you can help elect officials who support the U!
Educating candidates about the University is an important first step in garnering their support for the U.
Registration information at mnvotes.org.
Find your polling place at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.
To register to vote or for more information about candidiates and the 2012 ballot initiatives, visit University Libraries.
