The operating budget proposal unveiled today by leaders in the state House of Representatives partially funds WSU’s top priority by providing $10.8 million in core funding for the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine over the 2019-21 biennium.
That would complete funding for the medical school’s original annual cohorts of 60. But it did not provide funding to allow the medical school to begin admitting an additional 20 students beginning this fall as planned. The university’s total operating request for the college is $14.4 million.
The budget proposal also provides funds for compensation adjustments for faculty and non-represented staff, though that was still being analyzed early this afternoon.
The Senate is expected to introduce its own budget proposal in the days to come in time for legislative leaders to agree on a compromise version to send to the governor’s desk by this year’s April 28 scheduled adjournment.