Robust research schools benefit economy

Open letter to the Utah Legislature:

There is no question we live in challenging economic times. And there is no question you have the difficult and unenviable task of balancing the state's budget in a time of greatly diminished state revenues. Last November you imposed, across the board on all Utah higher education institutions, a 4 percent base cut in funds for fiscal year 2008-09. During this current session, you will decide what further cuts will be made and who will bear these budget cuts.

While higher education, including the University of Utah, necessarily must shoulder a reasonable share of these budget cuts, this letter is a plea to make further cuts on a considered, selective basis. Utah's two research universities — the University of Utah and Utah State University — are unique in our system. Further budget cuts should take into account this uniqueness — not because we are better than Utah's other colleges and universities but because we are a unique contributor to the state's economy. We not only teach, we also engage in research that supports our state's economy.

Please consider:

1. The University of Utah alone brought $680 million of research grants, contracts and fellowships into the state during the past two years and is on track to receive up to $400 million of additional extramural research funding this year. These new funds enter the state's economy and seed innovation that leads to the creation of new businesses.

2. The Legislature previously made a significant investment in the state's future by wisely funding research through the USTAR program. Although it's still in its infancy, we are already seeing dividends. Further significant cuts will squander this past investment.

3. Utah's two research universities discover life-changing innovation and take these discoveries to market in the form of new companies, thereby creating jobs, selling new products and pumping money into our local economy. The U. is ranked second among all U.S. universities (behind only MIT) when it comes to commercializing the research that takes place on our campus. Our Technology Venture Development Office has helped create 73 new companies over the past few years, with 79 percent of those companies staying in Utah and contributing to local economic development.

4, The U. is the state's third-largest employer, providing jobs to more than 26,000 faculty and staff, all who put their wages into the hands of local businesses. Many of these employees are engaged in vital research in health care, bio-engineering and other scientific endeavors that improve our basic quality of life.

Coming out of our current recession will be a challenge for all Utahns; one that will require hard work, sacrifice and some creative planning. But, please, do not opt for a short-term fix by imposing indiscriminate, across-the-board cuts to all of higher education. Please invest in our research universities and recognize that they are an important solution to our economic woes.

Our recession will be less severe and of shorter duration if our research universities are strong and robust. Invest in our state's future. Doing so will benefit all Utahns.

Randy L. Dryer is the chairman of the board of trustees for the University of Utah.