It could be another tough legislative session for the University of Minnesota, if president Robert Bruininks' time with the Senate's higher education committee Wednesday is any indication.
He began by emphasizing the effects of the state's investment in the U:
He covered improvements in undergraduate education, graduation rates and research grants. But senators -- many of them new to the committee -- had topics they wanted to see covered, too. Here are two questions (and summarized answers) from Senator Claire Robling:
Another senator questioned whether professors ought to be teaching more classes. "We have regularly asked them to take on additional loads," Bruininks said. "We've frozen their salaries, we've reduced their benefits."
He went on to tout cuts the university has made. "We're cost hawks, if you will."
The last questioner, Sen. Jeremy Miller, told Bruininks that he's gotten questions and anger from his constituents "back home" about the $610,00 salary of the new president, Eric Kaler. He called that "a significantly higher rate."
Bruininks corrected him: Bruininks makes the same amount, when you consider retirement pay. Such a question is fair game, though, he said. Then he said this:
