INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne community is seeking up to $35.5 million in funding to upgrade programs and facilities.

The Journal Gazette (http://bit.ly/17jc1s1 ) reports dozens of students and faculty visited the Statehouse on Thursday. They met with Senate President Pro Tem David Long, who taught them about hot-button issues and how the legislature works.

The visitors and lawmaker also discussed the public university's funding needs. It's seeking an $8.6 million base budget increase for academic purposes, as well as $26.9 million for the second phase of a south campus development.

 Although Long supports the school, he says lawmakers will have to wait until April before making a decision on new projects or funding to the budget.

Lawmakers recently gave $21.3 million for renovations to a library and the school's first building.