Speaking at a Senate Assembly meeting yesterday, University Vice President for Government Relations Cynthia Wilbanks updated faculty members on work underway in her office.

Wilbanks discussed some of the challenges her office will face in dealing with Michigan’s 2011 fiscal year budget. In addition, she spoke about how her office is preparing for the upcoming election and pending legislation that may have consequences for the University.

Wilbanks told faculty that her office would need to begin to forge new relationships with potential state senators and members of the state House of Representatives because many will not be returning to office due to term limits.

As many as 29 of the 38 members of the state Senate will be leaving, Wilbanks said, adding that she has been meeting with representatives who are likely to win their elections.

“With that kind of change, as many relationships as we can start early — in other words, before they even take office — the better,” she said.

Wilbanks also discussed the state’s budget for next year, focusing on diminishing state funds and the revamped Michigan Promise Scholarship. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently proposed bringing the Michigan Promise Scholarship back as a to a tax credit for students who commit to staying in Michigan for a year following graduation instead of a merit-based scholarship.

In addition, Wilbanks talked about proposed legislation that if passed, would allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus. The proposed bill would a override University policy that bans weapons on campus, but it would not supercede state law banning concealed weapons in residence halls, classrooms and arenas.

“We were able to slow down the bill that would have eliminated the regents ability to make decisions about the safety of the campus with respect to carrying concealed weapons,” Wilbanks said. “The bill is still pending in the (state) House and could be taken up at any moment by the committee that originally was looking at an entire package of bills related to liberalizing gun laws.”

PESCOVITZ DISCUSS FUTURE OF UMHS, NCRC

Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Ora Pescovitz also spoke at yesterday’s Senate Assembly meeting and discussed the future of the University of Michigan Health System.

Pescovitz emphasized UMHS’s sizeable impact on campus, noting that it comprises about one half of the University in terms of money, space and staff.

Pescovitz said when she was transitioning to the University about nine months ago, UMHS’s finances were not as secure as they are now. She said foresight and planning by UMHS management before she arrived reduced expenses for the system.

“Our finances have stabilized, ” Pescovitz said.

Pescovitz said UMHS is growing in the number of people it will be able to serve. In addition to the opening of the North Campus Research Complex — which UMHS owns — UMHS is increasing the number of hospital beds

Aside from the North Campus Research Complex, which Pescovitz discussed in detail, UMHS is growing in terms of number of people they will be able to serve. With the new C.S. Motts Children’s and Von Voightlander Women’s Hospital the number of licensed beds will increase.

Pescovitz also outlined her main goals for the future of UMHS.

“When we look at the future of the health system we say that we are creating the future of heath care through discovery,” she said.

In addition to this goal, Pescovitz said she would like for the University to become a leader in health care, health reform, biomedical innovation and medical and nursing education.

According to Pescovitz, UMHS is “knee deep” in a strategic planning process which was put into effect last September to help advance these goals.