Hinshaw makes case for research, student aid

Making the case for university-based research, the federal granting agencies that support it, and student aid, Graduate School Dean Virginia Hinshaw testified before a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee April 4.

Related stories: Pell Grant boost passes Senate

Hinshaw urged the panel, the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, to continue increased support for biomedical research.

Specifically, Hinshaw spoke out in support of increased funding for the National Institute of Health, which has received budget increases of 15 percent for the past two fiscal years. Continuing that trend, she said, is critical for continuity and stability in the research environment.

“We need to keep that momentum going, instead of reverting to the old boom-and-bust cycles that characterized NIH funding in the past,” Hinshaw said.

Emphasizing that modern biomedical research is hampered by an aging infrastructure, she encouraged lawmakers to factor those concerns into budget decisionmaking as well: “Great research ideas are constantly being generated by our faculty, staff and students, but pursuing those ideas requires modern facilities and equipment, along with the analytical and communication tools rapidly emerging through computer technology.”

Speaking in support of increased student aid, Hinshaw cited the importance of federal programs such as Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Perkins Loans and federal work-study programs.

“My efforts are primarily directed at graduate students, but I know that many of them could never pursue graduate degrees without the support of student aid at the undergraduate level,” said Hinshaw.

Hinshaw spoke on behalf of the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education, the Council of Graduate Schools and the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.