MOSCOW - The University of Idaho, the state's leading research institution, opened its doors Thursday to members of Idaho's Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee - or JFAC.

The 10-member group, along with members of the state's division of financial management, legislative services office and Idaho State Board of Education, toured UI research facilities and laboratories. They also spent time talking to professors and students working on developing solutions to the state's and the world's most pressing problems.

As Idaho's land-grant institution, UI oversees 70 university-affiliated operations in 42 of Idaho's 44 counties.

University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis stressed the importance of funding these vital research and educational facilities to ensure they'll continue to operate at their full potential.

"It is crucial that our state's leaders know and understand what we do at the University of Idaho. Our faculty works hard on research projects and educational outreach that affects each and every one of us. I can talk about our university, but there is no better example of what it's doing than by visiting our main campus and experiencing first-hand and seeing how we fulfill our educational mission on a daily basis," said Nellis.

Over the past four years, UI experienced a $30 million loss in state funding. Nevertheless, it partnered with 250 private and public entities to keep research and academic programs moving forward.

"While we're proud and very grateful for the non-governmental support we've received, we realize that there is a limit to the lifelines others can provide. We believe our legislators will understand that we're exceptionally good stewards of our resources," said Nellis.

Ysabel Bilbao is with University Communications-South for the University of Idaho.