University administrators, faculty, staff, students and alumni will join hundreds of other representatives from across Alabama on Thursday, Feb. 28, for the annual Higher Education Day Rally on the front steps of the Alabama State House in Montgomery.

During the 11 a.m. rally, attendees will remind legislators and other state officials of the important relationship of higher education to the state’s economic future as the legislature prepares the 2013-2013 state budget.

Following the rally, a luncheon will be held for USA attendees at the RSA Plaza, located next door to the capitol. Guests will include members of the Southwest Alabama Legislative Delegation.

The theme of this year’s rally is “Higher Education Lights Up Alabama; Every Star Counts.”  Sponsored by the Higher Education Partnership, which represents 13 of Alabama’s public institutions of higher learning, the rally is the capital city’s largest annual advocacy event. The event provides opportunities for participants to meet with legislators as well as other state officials involved in funding for higher education.

“The 2012-13 Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget that passed during the previous legislative session included a cut in funding,” said Happy Fulford, executive director of Governmental Relations. “As we move to the next year, we must generate a positive budget outcome and continue to make progress.”

The Office of Governmental Relations will provide a bus for administrators, faculty and staff to attend the rally. The bus will depart the parking lot of University Commons at 7:30 a.m., and it will return participants no later than 5 p.m.

Faculty and staff need to reserve seats for the bus trip by calling the Office of Governmental Relations at (251) 460-7277, or e-mailing govrel@southalabama.edu.

The Center for Academic Service-Learning and Civic Engagement is asking faculty members to use this trip to Montgomery as a service-learning opportunity for their classes. To discuss service-learning opportunities, contact Karen Peterson, co-director of the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, at (251) 460-6148, or e-mail kpeterson@usouthal.edu.

Students may reserve bus seats and sign their liability waivers for Higher Ed Day by visiting www.caslce.org