House/Senate higher ed comparison: Limits on MnSCU central funding.

Senate: No firm restrictions, though the Chancellor is directed to review "institutional priority allocations" (centers of excellence, competitive salaries, community energy pilots, e-folio upgrade) and make a recommendation to the board as to whether they are important to "advancing the educational mission and priorities of the system," and the Board can discontinue funding.

House: Limits central office funding to $47M each year, decreasing to $44M in FY2012-13; forbids filling any currently open administrative or managerial positions (even on campuses), institutes a pay freeze for admin, and forbids the use of search firms in hiring; eliminates centers of excellence and other MnSCU priorities and directs that the money go to campuses; limits funding for technology initiatives to $40M.

Implications for MSUM: The provisions in the House bill, with the potential exception of the limitation on filling admin/managerial positions, are all beneficial to MSUM. The House directs as much money as possible to campuses, which is particularly important in a time of decreasing overall funding.