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Committee advances ROTC endowment to create income account for University of Wyoming program
Summary
Senate File 28 would create a permanent endowment and income account for the University of Wyoming ROTC program; the committee approved the measure 4–0 with one excused and noted the bill creates the fund mechanism but includes no appropriation.
The committee advanced Senate File 28 to establish a permanent University of Wyoming Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Endowment Fund and a related income account to support ROTC academic programming, field training, recruitment and retention, faculty positions and student financial aid.
Lieutenant Colonel Karen Henkel described the statutory mechanics: the bill would create Wyoming Statutes in a new chapter (21-16-2001 / 2002 / 2003 in the draft) to establish the endowment and income account. Investment earnings deposited to the income account may be spent (the bill permits spending up to 100% of the income account balance) and unspent amounts would be credited back to the endowment. The University Board of Trustees would be responsible for prompt disbursement and must provide an annual report to the committee listing programs, expenditures and faculty positions supported by investment earnings.
Committee members asked who would supervise disbursement and whether funds could be used for faculty positions or direct student assistance. A university official present noted the vice president who oversees these types of funds would authorize disbursements, and Henkel and other staff said the bill allows use for programmatic support, recruitment and retention of students and faculty and financial aid for students; it does not itself appropriate new money into the endowment. Committee members reiterated that the bill only creates the mechanism; contributions could come from private gifts, the university or future legislative appropriation.
Public comments supported the measure; Bill Winnie cited national leaders who came through ROTC and urged support for program strength. The committee voted to advance the bill; roll call recorded 4 ayes and 1 excused.
