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BISMARCK - In a Wednesday overview for the North Dakota University System budget bill, Senate Bill 2003, chancellor Bill Goetz urged lawmakers to look at the budget requests more as policy issues than budget issues.

"The success of the university system does not rest just with the people in the university system but also with legislators," he said. He commended the 2007 Legislature for the past university budget, which he said allowed the system to "continue to build on prior successes."

The overview was presented to the House Appropriations Committee, which will break into subcommittees next week to hear details for individual colleges.

Both Goetz and Richard Smith, president of the State Board of Higher Education, emphasized the importance partnerships have to the higher education system. Goetz said the need for partnerships and open communication was reinforced during a series of 11 regional meetings held around the state this fall. He cited high quality, affordability, accessibility and promoting a vibrant state economy as common goals for higher education from the private sector as well as from the university system.

Smith commended the Senate for adding $8.2 million to the bill to freeze tuition at two-year colleges and limit tuition increases at four-year institutions to 4 percent.

According to a report prepared by the Legislative Council staff, Minot State University would get $693,392 of the $8.2 million. MSU-Bottineau would get $172,331 and Williston State College would get $256,124.

Another amendment adds $5 million for the wellness center project at Minot State University.