Funds release doesn't include Lincoln University land grant match

A Lincoln University student crosses the bridge from Page Library on Lincoln's campus on April 30, 2016.
A Lincoln University student crosses the bridge from Page Library on Lincoln's campus on April 30, 2016.

Lincoln University didn't benefit from Gov. Jay Nixon's $4 million release Wednesday of funds withheld earlier this year.

Lawmakers last spring gave LU an additional $1.5 million to use as the state's match for an equal amount of federal land grant funds, but Nixon withheld $1 million in July.

LU President Kevin Rome wasn't pleased the money still is being withheld.

"We are extremely disappointed with Gov. Nixon's decision to not release these critical funds to Lincoln University, while still opting to release funds to other agencies," Rome said in a statement.

Almost three weeks ago, Lincoln officials said there could be layoffs next spring if the money isn't released.

But, Nixon told reporters Wednesday, LU has received more money in its total budget.

"They got a base budget increase in performance funding this year of 4 percent," the governor said. "As I look at this right now, an institution which obviously is extremely important educationally has more money this year than last year.

"And it's significantly more. So, when it came to the limited amount of dollars we had to release, that one didn't make it to the finish line."

Congress in 1862 passed a law designating a "land grant" school in each state to focus on agricultural and technical education and military tactics.

The University of Missouri-Columbia is one of those 1862 schools.

Lincoln receives federal land grant funding because Congress in 1890 added a number of historically black colleges and universities - mostly in the South - to the 1862 list.

Under current law, each school can receive up to a designated amount, as long as there is a dollar-for-dollar state or local match.

Rome long has argued LU never received its full match, while the MU's match for many years has been built into its core budget.

In a Nov. 18 email to Lincoln's faculty and staff, Rome noted Lincoln could receive up to $7 million in federal funding.

"We have funded an increasingly large number of that match, which was never funded before. So, their budget is moving forward in both size and scope," Nixon said Wednesday.

But, Rome said in his Wednesday response: "This is a continued disregard of Lincoln University, as a historically black institution and as a land grant institution.

"(Nixon) has failed to take into consideration our entire population, which includes low income, rural Missourians who often are the beneficiaries of the land grant programming the university offers."

Rome cited Lincoln's founding 150 years ago and argued Congress "established the 1890 land grant status for much the same reason, to offer equal agriculture and mechanical arts programming to those who were cast away from the 1862 land grant schools."

Now, he added, "some 126 years later, it is unfortunate to see that the fight still continues for equity."

Throughout his administration, Nixon has said: "Budgets are about priorities."

He added Wednesday: "As I prepare to leave office, I leave a budget that's balanced, while still making smart, responsible investments that will move our state forward."

Nixon pointed to improved funding for both higher education and elementary and secondary schools as part of that improvement, repeating his belief education is Missouri's best economic development tool.

Of the $4 million released from withholding Wednesday, almost half - $1.8 million - is intended "to complete final renovations at Missouri State University's Glass Hall" in Springfield, Nixon said. "This is a project that has seen strong public and private-sector support, as part of $24 million (in) overall improvements."

He reminded reporters he also still has withheld more than $10 million budgeted for a new business school at MU in Columbia.

Rome countered: "It is our hope that the new (Greitens) administration is more thoughtful of the mission of Lincoln University and the entire population we serve."