PHOENIX — It was a rainy day at the Arizona Capitol Wednesday, and a few University of Arizona boosters wondered briefly whether that was a good or bad omen.

Either way, they were going to try to convince legislators that higher education needs help, even as the state grapples with a huge budget shortfall.

UA alumni, students, parents and faculty came to Phoenix to be citizen lobbyists for the day. Charlene Ledet, director of the UA’s legislative advocacy program, said 115 people signed up to attend.

Before heading out, the group received a quick coaching session to help them persuade lawmakers. Among the factoids:

— In the last 18 months, the university has lost $100 million in state funding, resulting in more than 600 job losses and a reduction in university services.

— Despite the cuts, the UA has its largest freshman class ever, with almost 7,000 students.

— Arizona needs a highly educated workforce, which is provided by the university, to attract businesses.

After a one-hour training session, supporters fanned out in groups to speak to the legislators and attend committee hearings. Each group had a leader—a professional lobbyist, in many cases.

Beatrice Perry, chair of the public affairs committee for the UA’s parent and family association, was the leader of one of the groups.

“I think you’ll find that all of us are passionate about education in our own little way,” she said.

Perry and her group met with Sen. Carolyn Allen and Rep. Russell Jones.

Allen, R-Scottsdale, expressed her concern about higher education, but lamented what she said would be a “brutal, brutal” budget year.

When the group met with Jones, a Yuma Republican, Perry asked for a commitment to the universities.

“The universities have already been hit hard,” Perry said.

Then she asked Jones what she and other boosters could do to help.

Jones asked for patience, adding that legislators are good people trying to make tough decisions. People come in and say they understand cuts have to be made, he said — but nobody wants their organization to lose money.

Jones did say that he hopes this year’s budget will spare the UA.

Throughout the day, the groups encountered varying degrees of support for higher education.

Christopher Vlahos, president of the UA’s alumni association, said his group spoke to one lawmaker who strongly supported higher education, one who believed higher education should be privatized and one in the middle of the two opinions.

Like many in the group, Vlahos thought it was a good idea to talk to politicians and get their perspectives.

He wondered if the event could have been even more beneficial if Arizona’s more than 100,000 alumni had been there.

“Can you imagine the power of our alums?” he asked.

Even so, Rep. Daniel Patterson, a Democrat whose Tucson district contains some UA facilities, said events like Wednesday’s are “critically important.”

He added that he strongly supports the state offering better support to universities, and cutting university funds is “penny-wise and pound-foolish.”

In a closing speech, Ledet thanked the group — especially those who had to take a day off from work to attend — for coming.

“I hope it makes a difference,” she said. “And I’m sure they will not forget it.”