Full state funding for faculty and staff salaries was voiced as the top priority of the universities for the 2004—05 academic year during the Board of Regents meeting Wednesday.

The request received mixed reactions from the regents.

Currently, Iowa State ranks second to last in salaries among peer institutions. The University of Iowa ranks third to last.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy told the regents Iowa State needs to have competitive wages for faculty and staff.

Iowa State needs to rebuild faculty because faculty numbers have decreased in the last few years due to budget cuts, Geoffroy said.

Regent Mary Ellen Becker of Oskaloosa said she fears if a bulk of state funds were spent on salaries, the institutions would be unable to recoup the large amounts of faculty lost over the past few years due to budget cuts.

“We need to not just stop the blood-letting, but we have to add blood to make the body healthy again,” she said.

Regent John Forsyth of Des Moines said the requested 12.6 percent increase in funds will not seem realistic to the Iowa Legislature.

It would be impossible for the state to come up with an additional $70 million to fund the salary increases, he said.

Regent Robert Downer of Iowa City said he believes funds are needed elsewhere and it is up to the regents to do something in regard to salaries.

“I am not willing to let go of the other priorities,” he said.

Two Iowa State capital appropriation requests were approved to be sent to the state legislature for funding.

These included the renovation and expansion of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Coover Hall.

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital renovation, an approximately $55 million project, is a high priority because the building will soon be coming up for accreditation inspection.

Plans for additions and improvement to Coover Hall, an approximately $35 million project, call for the construction of a new three-floored wing.