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New UAS Chancellor Sets Legislative Priorities
Higher Ed Partnership and UASPAC Equal Political Influence
Higher Ed Day Set for Feb. 21

New UAS Chancellor Sets Legislative Priorities

New UAS Chancellor Malcolm "Mack" Portera "hit the ground running" Jan. 1, and is already a key player in meetings and activities in support of higher education throughout the state. Portera, former president of Mississippi State University, is a familiar face in Tuscaloosa where he previously served in numerous UA and UAS positions including UA vice president for external affairs and UAS vice chancellor for external affairs. In a recent meeting with UA’s Legislative Agenda Committee (LAC), Portera outlined his core message and call for action that will advance the fundamental priority of increasing education funding.

Portera said tax reform is essential to produce the needed revenue to fund higher ed, raise faculty and staff salaries and create the business and cultural environment necessary for long-term economic development in Alabama.

Portera told LAC members that he is encouraged by Alabama’s potential and by work already in place to meet that potential. He praised especially the work the UA campus has done toward convincing Alabama’s politicians that UA and the higher ed community are players in determining the state’s fiscal health and stability. He said his plan is to strengthen that organization and effort.

He noted that a large turnout for Higher Ed Day, Thursday, Feb. 21, in Montgomery is critical. The theme for the annual event in support of higher education will be tax reform to grow the state’s economy, and efforts will concentrate on getting legislators and candidates to pledge they will NOT promise "no new taxes."

Higher Ed Partnership and UASPAC Equal Political Influence

Portera noted that ratcheting up the Higher Education Partnership and the UASPAC, which needs about $1 million to remain an influential player, is critical. He reminded the LAC that consistency and cooperation among the three campuses is also crucial to success in Montgomery. Some 33 percent of UAH’s employees have joined the UASPAC. UA has less than 10 percent.

Support Higher Ed and the UASPAC Through Payroll Deduction

UA faculty and staff who are interested in being a member of the Higher Education Partnership and the UASPAC may join and contribute funds through payroll deduction. The forms for HEP and UASPAC membership are easy to obtain from the UA Web site or from the government relations office.

On the Web:

Go to the UA Government Relations page by typing in the virtual URL address -- http://governmentrelations.ua.edu -- or go to the site map from the main home page and click on "G," to find the Government Relations page.

Then click on "Join the HEP and UASPAC." This link has a form for both the HEP and UASPAC.

Print out the form and return the filled-out and signed form to the government relations office through campus mail to Bill Jones at Box 870122.

By phone:

Call the government relations office at 334/242-2262 and request a form by email, fax or mail.

Higher Ed Day Set for Feb. 21

Higher Ed Day is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Capitol Building. For information, contact Scott Bridges at 348-5027 or Margaret Garner at 348-1255.