St. Edward’s University now has a presence in the nation’s capital.

The university contracted McAllister and Quinn, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm. The lobbying firm hopes to secure $1 million in funding for equipment for the John Brooks Williams Natural Science Center north and yet-to-be-constructed south building through the U.S. House Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.

The school hired the firm last November to identify government programs to provide funding for improvements to the university and has since given $63,000 according to the U.S. Senate Lobbying Disclosure database.

The lobbying firm signed an open-ended agreement with St. Edward’s managed through the president’s office that can be terminated at any time, according to President George Martin. The firm is contracted with other private universities similar in size to St. Edward’s, like St. Xavier University in Chicago. Martin said the university chose the firm because of the flexibility of the contract and the firm’s background with educational institutions.

“We were looking for government funds that are available for science education,” Martin said. “And right now there is an alignment of federal agencies that want to promote science education.”

Science

The Williams south building is part of Martin’s 10-year Master plan for St. Edward’s, established at the beginning of his tenure in 2000. The potential funding received for the building is part of an interest in government to provide money for science, technology, engineering, and math education, Martin said.

The building will feature classes for physics, computer science, mathematics, and science and perspective according to Cynthia Naples, interim dean of the School of Natural Sciences.

Naples said that the new building will differ from the north building and will feature more of a focus on computer-based labs, not the chemistry and biology labs featured in the north building. While the funding will provide new equipment for the south building, it will also fund changes in the north building.  

“We need to replace the old equipment we use in the labs for biology and chemistry,” Naples said. “And the computers need to be updated, too.”

Test tubes, chemicals, lab tools, and glasses required for labs and experiments need to be replaced. The equipment will serve classes like anatomy and physiology, and other classes within the fields of biology and chemistry Naples said.

The south building will also provide study lounges, computer labs, and tutorial centers open to all students and will provide room for classes of all kinds. It will be located between Woodward and the current north building and will be opening in fall 2013, Martin said.

Wild Basin

In addition to the House Water and Energy Appropriations bill, St. Edward’s seeks to discover more funding possibilities for other projects like the Wild Basin Nature Preserve.

The Wild Basin program, which St. Edward’s acquired in April 2008, provides hands-on learning for students of natural sciences. St. Edward’s spokeswoman Mischelle Diaz said that she hopes the partnership with McAllister and Quinn will provide resources for students and a chance to earn experience in the field.

“These lab instruments that will be used to integrate field based science experience with classroom research,” Diaz said.

The preserve creates real world opportunities for science students to study species unique to the area. Students also participate in a census of some species throughout the area every year.  Future funding would also provide opportunities for internships and for collaborative research aimed at preparing students for careers in science and technology, Diaz said.

CAMP

The university hopes that the contract with McAllister and Quinn will provide funding in the future for the CAMP program at St. Edward’s.

 Established at St. Edward’s in 1972, the College Assistance Migrant Program provides funding for college education for migrant farm workers and their families. The program currently receives most of its funding from the U.S. Department of Education Title V grant system, Martin said.

Through the contract with McAllister and Quinn the university hopes to find alternative means to fund scholarships and financial aid for students in the program, which serves 35 students each year.

As with many private education institutions, St. Edward’s is also familiar with lobbying through the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

The organization works as a spokesperson for hundreds of private universities and colleges across the U.S., Martin said.

Recently, the group supported the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which provides a raise in the Federal Pell Grant for students, from $5,550 in 2010 to $6,900 in 2019, in addition to keeping interest rates low on subsidized federal loans, according to the Committee of Education and Labor’s website.

The university also receives a great deal of funding through the federal grant system. In the past year, St. Edward’s received $6 million in federal grants to support programs across campus, Martin said.

“Everything the university does, whether seeking grants, designing a campus plan or deciding what programs are created, the basic question that has to be answered is – does this enhance the mission to educate our students?” Martin said. “And if it doesn’t it shouldn’t be on the table.”