University chancellors warn of budget cut impact - Clarke Morrison, Asheville Citizen-Times

The chancellors of Western North Carolina's three public universities predict dire consequences for higher education if proposed budget cuts are enacted. At stake, they said, are course offerings students need to graduate on time and long-term damage to a primary driver of economic development. Gov. Bev. Perdue's $19 billion budget plan for the coming fiscal year would slash spending on the university system by 5.9 percent. That would compound painful permanent and temporary cuts of almost 10 percent imposed by state lawmakers this year, said Anne Ponder, chancellor of UNC Asheville.