Recession Realities in Higher Education

UC Irvine Dissects the Budget - Jessica Pratt, New University

2012-01-27T05:10:00.001-06:00

UC Irvine students and faculty members learned about university financial issues and discussed the impact of recent budget reductions on school services during last Wednesday’s “Winter Student Forum Series” at the UCI Student Center. The event began with an introduction from ASUCI President Vikram Nayudu and AGS President Payel Chowdhury, explaining that the purpose of the forum was for the administration to explain the specifics of the UC budget challenge and for students to provide feedback and insight on how to ameliorate these issues. Vice Chancellor of Planning and Budget, Meredith Michaels, then started off the presentation by describing exactly how the funds allocated to the university are distributed, and how the budget is not as simple as it may seem.

CSU budget slashed again - Alejandra Paz, Daily Aztec

2012-01-27T05:04:00.001-06:00

On Dec. 13, Gov. Jerry Brown announced an additional $100 million for the 2011-2012 year to be cut from the California State University budget. State funding support was already reduced in May by $650 million. This $750 million seems to be a permanent cut according to the budget proposal for the 2012-2013 year. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to the additional $100 million cuts. “What we have feared for months is now our reality — and unless we come together to find new resources for K-12 and higher education, we are going to surrender the current and future generations and dismantle a once-proud public education system that can no longer meet the demands of a growing economy,” Newsom said.

Harper College ends its football program - Eric Peterson, Daily Herald

2012-01-27T05:01:00.000-06:00

Operating the program next year, school officials said, was projected to cost the college about $353,338. That money now will be returned to the college’s general fund and has not yet been earmarked for any other program or project, spokesman Phil Burdick said. While budget issues and scheduling difficulties played a role in the college’s decision, residency of the players also was a growing concern, according to a Harper statement. Over the past six years, more than 90 percent of Harper’s football players came from outside the district, creating significant challenges for student-athletes.

Duquesne departments face budget cuts - Robyn Rudish-Laning, Duquesne Duke

2012-01-26T05:10:00.001-06:00

Duquesne issued budget cuts for every University department and organization, effective Jan. 4, in response to a decrease in enrollment, officials said. According to Associate Vice President for Budget, Planning and Institutional Research Matt Frist, the cuts only affected non-labor accounts on campus, meaning that no salaries or positions will be cut in any department. Budgets were cut by an average of eight percent, Frist said. Some departments received the minimum cut of five percent, while other departments, such as the division of Business and Management, saw a cut of 12 percent.

Southeast Missouri State officials respond to higher ed budget cuts - Erin Ragan, Southeast Missourian

2012-01-26T05:05:00.001-06:00

Southeast Missouri State University could deal with a $5.2 million budget reduction under Gov. Jay Nixon's proposal to cut 12.5 percent from higher education in fiscal 2013. Before Tuesday night's State of the State address, Nixon announced $89 million would be cut from public universities under the proposal, the largest amount to be cut from an area of the state budget with the exception of a $191 million cut to Medicaid. Across Missouri on Wednesday, university officials and legislators responded to the proposal. Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, said Nixon's proposed cuts for university budgets and a $5 million increase to K-12 education funding show a pattern of "decimating higher education and treading water elsewhere."

Yale still addressing budget gap - GAVAN GIDEON, Yale Daily News

2012-01-26T05:00:00.001-06:00

More than three years after the onset of the recession first forced administrators to make University-wide budget cuts, Yale’s finances still have not fully recovered. University President Richard Levin and Provost Peter Salovey wrote in a Wednesday memo to faculty and staff that additional budget reductions are required to close the remnants of a $350 million gap caused by the 25 percent decline in the endowment three years ago. Though Yale returned 21.9 percent on its investments in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the University’s increase in spending is projected to outpace growth in revenue for the 2012-’13 academic year. Levin and Salovey said they expect to avoid the “across-the-board” cuts in the coming year’s budget, unlike those they called for last January and in previous years. The 2012-’13 budget should also leave room for increases in faculty and staff salary and wages, they said.

Alternative UC tuition plan attracts interest - Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times

2012-01-25T05:05:00.003-06:00

UC Riverside students received a dose of validation Wednesday from system President Mark G. Yudof over their radical plan to abolish tuition and replace it with post-graduation payments equaling 5% of their income for 20 years. Speaking at a UC regents meeting on the Riverside campus, Yudof said he was "very impressed" with the proposal — despite the obstacles it would face in implementation. "We think the ideas are constructive," Yudof said, promising that his staff would study the plan.

Mo. lawmakers may buck Nixon's higher ed cuts - Associated Press

2012-01-25T05:03:00.000-06:00

Missouri university officials warned Wednesday of potential tuition increases, course reductions and employee furloughs if Gov. Jay Nixon's newly proposed 12.5 percent funding cut for higher education comes to fruition. Nixon's budget proposal would drop state aid to public colleges and universities to its lowest level since 1997, compounding the financial strain on schools that already have been forced to trim costs during several consecutive years of flat or declining state funding. On Wednesday, a key lawmaker pledged to try to block the governor's plan and college officials said it won't be possible to account for the collective $106 million cut merely by administrative efficiencies.

Kentucky Higher Education: Beshear 2012 Budget Address - Universities to face cuts -Mike Wynn, Courier-Journal

2012-01-25T05:00:00.001-06:00

Funding:
This year: $1.25 billion
2012-13: $1.17 billion (down 6.4%)
2013-14: $1.18 billion (up 0.9%)

What they get:
The two-year budget for postsecondary education cuts spending by 6.4 percent next year, but fully funds student financial aid programs, including the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship, among others. Appropriations would essentially remain constant in the second year of the biennium.

UAH to provide less than 50 percent of budget for revived hockey program - Paul Gattis, The Huntsville Times

2012-01-24T05:10:00.000-06:00

The revived hockey program at the University of Alabama in Huntsville will be required to get more than half its budget from sources beyond the school. UAH President Robert Altenkirch, who overturned the decision to scrap the program last month, outlined the restructured budget of the hockey program Tuesday in a meeting with The Times editorial board. Under the new plan, UAH will provide $650,000 to the projected $1.5 million annual budget cited by the school to have a competitive NCAA Division I hockey program. That leaves $850,000 - or 57 percent - to come from other sources.

Professors lecture lawmakers on higher ed issues - Christine Stoddard, Virginia Gazette

2012-01-24T05:05:00.001-06:00

One day after the General Assembly opened, 36 professors and 12 students from colleges and universities in Virginia came to the Capitol to encourage legislators to better meet higher education’s financial and policy needs. Led by faculty from Virginia Commonwealth University, the participants had six hours to push for more money for higher education, lower tuition for in-state students and greater compensation and benefits for teachers at the state’s public colleges and universities. Dr. Patricia Cummins, professor in the VCU School of World Studies and organizer of the event, embraced the symbolism of Virginia Higher Education Advocacy Day by likening the mission to a post-WWII mentality. “The GI Bill helped produce 30 years of the greatest prosperity the U.S. has ever known," Cummins said. "Back then, people realized that higher education serves both the social and individual good. “More recently, there’s been a shift in philosophy that higher education is more of an individual good than a societal good. We’re trying to swing the pendulum."

Colo. suffers from most drastic higher-ed cuts in U.S. - Brittany Anas, Daily Camera

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-06:00

Colorado slashed per-student funding for major public research universities 48.3 percent between 2002 and 2010 -- after adjusting for inflation -- making the cuts the most drastic in the nation, according to a new report from the National Science Board. The report warns that foreign nations have been heavily investing in science and innovation, emerging as fierce competitors for the United States. Nationally, states reduced per-student funding for major public research universities 20 percent during the last decade, according to the report. "We're shooting ourselves in the foot because we've been the leader internationally in the STEM fields," said University of Colorado Provost Stein Sture. "This is the wrong way for the state and the nation to invest. It's just a matter of time before we fall behind." Colorado ranks among the lowest states in public funding while CU is a nationally recognized leader in producing educators in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Big Target, Bigger Cuts - Kevin Kiley, Inside Higher Ed

2012-01-23T05:10:00.002-06:00

Per-student state funding for public research universities dropped about 20 percent between 2002 and 2010, according to a report being released today by the National Science Board, the policy-making arm of the National Science Foundation. The report’s authors said they were particularly interested this year in states' funding of science and engineering research at the university level and what impact the national recession has had. In inflation-adjusted dollars, total state support for the top 101 public universities declined by 10 percent between 2002 and 2010, with nearly 75 percent receiving cuts. Because institutions' enrollments grew significantly during this period, the per-student decline was about twice as steep. State funding declined as a share of these universities’ budgets from 28 percent in 2001 to 19 percent in 2009.

Budget plan would raise the bar for Cal Grant financial aid - Carla Rivera, Los Angeles Times

2012-01-23T05:05:00.001-06:00

Were it not for the financial aid that helps cover the cost of his tuition, it is unlikely that Devonte Jackson would be able to attend UC Berkeley. The political science major has two campus jobs, but his $12,000 state-paid Cal Grant is the glue that holds his education dreams together. Tuition, books, housing and other fees top $31,000 annually. But Cal Grants could become much harder to obtain for new students under restrictions proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown as part of his 2012-13 budget. One of the most contentious of them would increase the minimum grade point average needed to qualify for the two types of awards, which are merit- and income-based and are a key part of the financial aid package for many low- and middle-income students.

Yee bill is 2nd effort to cap CSU executive pay - Nanette Asimov, SF Chronicle

2012-01-23T05:01:00.000-06:00

For the second time this month, a state senator has introduced legislation to limit executive raises at the California State University system within two years of a tuition increase or no boost in the allocation it receives from the state. Base pay for newly hired executives would also be limited to 5 percent more than what their predecessor received under SB967, by state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco. Those provisions differ somewhat from a similar bill introduced Jan. 4, which refers only to CSU presidents' salaries and would cap them at 150 percent of whatever the chief justice of the California Supreme Court is making.

Another budget cut splinters the University’s operating budget; $8.1 million chopped - Andrea Gallo, LSU Reveille

2012-01-22T05:10:00.001-06:00

While students spent winter break adorning trees with baubles and tinsel, administrators trimmed the University's money tree by $8.1 million, continuing a pattern of the University being seared with midyear budget cuts since January 2009.
Administrators have cut funding for 60 University positions, 40 of which were vacant positions the University eliminated. The other 20 positions will now be funded by athletics budgets or private source funding. Chancellor Michael Martin and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Jack Hamilton divided the cut between academic and non-academic units. Academic units took a $2.5 million cut each, and non-academic units took a $3.2 million cut. Non-academic units are comprised mostly of Facility Services but also include advising and support areas. Even after this cut stretches through the University, there is a dangling chance that this semester's financial setbacks are not over.

More out-of-state, foreign students apply to UC schools - Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times

2012-01-22T05:05:00.001-06:00

With the University of California system recruiting more out-of-state and foreign students for the extra tuition they pay, applications from such students rise 56% over last year. Sharply higher numbers of students from other states and countries applied for admission to the University of California this year, following UC's controversial efforts to recruit more such students for the extra tuition they pay, according to a report released Thursday.

Charging More for STEM College Classes - WJHG

2012-01-22T05:01:00.002-06:00

Should college students who major in more expensive subjects like chemistry, engineering and technological fields pay higher tuition? It’s a question being asked of lawmakers by leading state university administrators. The idea is being considered as a way to help fund state schools losing public money. STEM, an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is the focus of the state’s plan to improve education and the workforce. The governor and business leaders want more students to pursue STEM degrees, but paying for those degrees may soon cost more. FSU’s President Eric Barron has been telling lawmakers, charging STEM students more could raise money and the quality of higher education. “I think this is a good market based argument without a cost to the state.”

DePaul responds to potential MAP cuts - Katherine Hall - DePaulia Online

2012-01-21T05:11:00.001-06:00

DePaul students may remember in October 2009, when more than 200 students rallied in Springfield to protest a planned 50 percent budget cut to the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP). Another 15 students traveled to Springfield in March of 2011 to continue to show their support for the MAP grant's continued existence. With almost a quarter of its students utilizing MAP grants to offset the cost of a private university education, DePaul is keeping a close eye on developments at the state level. The MAP grant was "a huge reason why I attended DePaul," said Anthony Alfano, a senior and president of DePaul's Student Government Association (SGA). "Two years ago, my ability to stay [at DePaul] was threatened [by the proposed cut, and with approximately 4,600 students at risk of losing their grants at the time, the rally at Springfield was a necessity.
"Many students would have to reevaluate whether they could continue to attend DePaul," he said.

Cal Grants would be harder to get under Brown's proposed budget - Los Angeles Times

2012-01-21T05:05:00.001-06:00

Cal Grants, the state-funded financial aid for California higher education students, could become much harder to obtain for new students under restrictions proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown as part of his 2012-2013 budget. One of the most contentious of the restrictions would increase the minimum grade point average needed to qualify for the awards, which are a key part of the financial aid package for many students. There are two types of grants under the program: Cal Grant "A" currently covers tuition up to $5,472 at Cal State universities, up to $12,192 at the University of California and up to $9,708 toward tuition and fees at private colleges. Cal Grant "B," for students with lower incomes, provides $1,551 for books, living expenses and tuition assistance, typically for students attending community colleges. Brown is proposing to increase the minimum GPA requirement for Cal Grant "A" recipients from 3.0 to 3.25 and for Cal Grant "B" from 2.0 to 2.75. The requirements for community college transfers to qualify for the grants would jump from 2.4 to 2.75.

U of Alberta faces staff cuts, larger classes - SHEILA PRATT, EDMONTON JOURNAL

2012-01-21T05:00:00.001-06:00

Students face larger classes and will see fewer professors as the University of Alberta faces its third tight budget in as many years. Provost Carl Amrhein says the university is "very seriously concerned" about the impact of another year of "flatlining" revenues from both tuition and the province, as well as declining investment income. The university's administration sent a letter to all deans, telling them to plan for further budget tightening in 2012 because the provincial budget next month is expected to hold the line on university operating grants. That money from the province represents about 65 per cent of the university's budget. Leslie Cormack, dean of the arts faculty, is prepared to reduce by seven the number of professors in 2012 - one of the biggest reductions since the Klein era, though there have been some losses in the past two years through early retirements.

Grambling State University 2012 Budget Cuts - Kimberly Monroe, HBCU Buzz

2012-01-20T05:09:00.001-06:00

Grambling State University, along with other public higher education institutions, was notified that Governor Bobby Jindal had imposed a Mid-Year budget cut. Governor Jindal had delivered the commencement speech for GSU graduates in spring 2009 on May 16. Jindal did not receive a support of praise from the parents, students, graduates or administration during or after his speech. In 2009 Jindal hag been criticized for turning down federal stimulus money in the face of looming budget cuts for the state. The governor had proposed a $141 million budget cut from K-12 schools, and $219 million budget cut from higher education. These actions forced the University of Louisiana System to impose cuts on all of its universities, including almost $5 million from Grambling State. Now in 2012, it is difficult to do, especially given the recent drastic cuts, the university’s planning process and the prior work of the university’s Budget and Priorities Committee made it possible to respond to the mandate.

College of the Desert has bold plan for the future - The Desert Sun Editorial Board

2012-01-20T05:05:00.002-06:00

College of the Desert, the Coachella Valley's largest higher educational institution, has seen state funding slashed by $4.4 million in the past two years. It anticipates losing another $8.4 million during the next four. But the college is in the midst of a building boom. It is adding new buildings to the main campus in Palm Desert, a permanent campus in Indio and a new campus in Palm Springs. It plans to expand its Mecca-Thermal campus and hopes to eventually build a campus in Desert Hot Springs. This is not as odd as it may seem. The new construction is funded by Measure B, a $346.5 million bond issue approved by nearly 69 percent of valley voters in 2004.

Nailing theses to UNC's door - Taylor Batten, Charlotte Observer

2012-01-20T05:00:00.001-06:00

Faced with close to $500 million in cuts mandated by the legislature, chancellors are asking the board to approve sizable tuition increases. UNC Asheville seeks a 13.5 percent hike this year; UNC Chapel Hill, 11.4 percent; UNC Charlotte, 7.8 percent. Article IX, Section 9 of the N.C. Constitution specifies that the UNC system must "as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense." That's in increasing danger. The UNC system is one of the most important institutions to this state's future. It's where 220,000 students are educated each year, where they become leaders, where they gain the tools necessary to earn an income and improve the state. As students are priced out by higher tuition, North Carolina's future is diminished.

Condor Center will be silent next school year and beyond - Ventura County Star

2012-01-19T05:10:00.001-06:00

The 16-year-old Oxnard College gymnasium will no longer be home to intercollegiate athletics as school administrators told staff Wednesday the school would suspend its three indoor sports — men's basketball, women's basketball and women's volleyball. In addition to slashing its budget by $150,000, Ventura College has decided to suspend its men's cross country program. The decisions mean all three Ventura County Community College District schools will cut athletic programs. The cuts are effective for the 2012-13 school year. Moorpark College President Pam Eddinger announced in November the school would cut three sports — baseball, men's cross country and men's track and field. She repeated her decision at Tuesday's board of trustees meeting. Moorpark shed men's and women's tennis in 2001 and men's and women's golf, as well as its wrestling program, in 2008.

Fresno State faces $11 million cut if state tax plan fails - Heather Somerville, The Fresno Bee

2012-01-19T05:05:00.001-06:00

Fresno State would have to ax $11 million later this year from its already bare-bones budget if a state tax measure proposed for the November ballot fails, President John Welty said Wednesday in a sobering message to the university community. That cut -- amounting to about 5% of the university's budget -- would come on top of the $5.4 million cut the campus absorbed in December and would be "impossible" to take, Welty said. "For the last three and a half years, our ability to meet the needs of students and our region has been stretching and stretching -- nearly to the breaking point -- because our elected officials have abandoned the state's commitment to higher education," Welty said at the spring assembly at California State University, Fresno.

Federal budget cuts threaten MSU nuclear research, Chrysler loan - Greg Gardner and Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free Press

2012-01-19T05:00:00.001-06:00

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu brought a double whammy of chilling news to Michigan on Wednesday -- nearly $600 million in government funding is now uncertain for a highly anticipated Michigan State University nuclear research project, and Chrysler may not get its long-sought loan to fund more fuel-efficient technology. Chu, speaking to the Detroit Economic Club, said pressure to reduce the federal budget deficit is having an impact. "We're in new ground now. The president and the previous president wanted to double the science budgets over a 10-year period," Chu said. "But that's not realistic anymore." Chu's statement that money is uncertain for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), a highly coveted physics research center, set off strong reactions.

CU-Boulder proposes 15.7% tuition hike for in-state students - Brittany Anas, Camera Staff Writer

2012-01-18T05:05:00.000-06:00

In-state tuition for full-time students at the University of Colorado next year could soar 15.7 percent under a plan proposed Wednesday. Under the proposal, tuition for full-time students in the College of Arts and Sciences -- which enrolls the most students on the Boulder campus -- would increase from $7,672 this year to $8,875 next year. The increase, if approved, would amount to an extra $1,203 a year. CU has raised tuition between 8.8 percent and 9.3 percent each of the last four years.

Budget Cuts Force Biodiversity Program to Close - Nick DeSantis, Chronicle of Higher Ed

2012-01-18T05:00:00.001-06:00

Budget cuts have forced a key biodiversity database to close, leaving scientists and researchers without a unified tool to access biological data from across state and federal agencies. The U.S. Geological Survey's National Biological Information Infrastructure program and its popular Web site shut down on Jan. 15 due to the elimination of the program's 2012 federal budget. The program's closure follows a series of drastic cuts that reduced its budget to zero in 2012 from $7 million in 2010.

Nevada Lawmakers begin discussion about allocation of higher ed dollars - David McGrath Schwartz, Las Vegas Sun

2012-01-18T04:54:00.001-06:00

One front in Nevada’s ongoing civil war over the next year will be how the state divides money among its universities and community colleges. UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada are shortchanged by a combined $55 million every two years, a Southern Nevada lawmaker said Wednesday at the first meeting of a committee to discuss allocation of higher ed dollars. Sen. John Lee, D-North Las Vegas, said because unequal allocation of state funds Southern Nevada college students subsidize students at the state’s northern and rural campuses. UNLV students, for example, pay 48 percent of all tuition dollars in the state, but the campus only receives 34 percent of state funding.

Consolidating to save money: Alabama should monitor Georgia’s cost-cutting plan - Editorial: Anniston Star

2012-01-17T05:08:00.000-06:00

The University of Georgia System plans to propose merging eight college campuses into four to save money. Alabama’s cash-strapped neighbor will merge small junior colleges and a professional school with larger institutions. Alabama should watch this with care. If there is one place where money might be saved in higher education, it is in the state’s proliferation of colleges and campuses. Just don’t expect it to happen.

Georgia regents OK college mergers - Laura Diamond, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

2012-01-17T05:04:00.000-06:00

In a historic step, the state Board of Regents Tuesday approved merging some colleges to drop the system from 35 institutions to 31. Leaders have discussed merging campuses for decades, but it never went anywhere until now. Chancellor Hank Huckaby said current economic realities mean the University System can't operate as it always has. The state has cut the system's funding by about $1 billion over the past four years because of the recession, while enrollment has increased by about 40,000 students. Consolidating eight colleges into four will allow the system to reduce administrative costs. That could save taxpayers millions annually, but Huckaby said it's too soon to say how much.

Simpson College to cut 10 positions - Jens Manuel Krogstad, Des Moines Register

2012-01-17T05:00:00.001-06:00

Simpson College announced today it will eliminate 10 positions at the end of the school year due to a drop in enrollment. The cuts will be spread throughout administration, staff and faculty who are not tenured or on tenure-track, spokeswoman Jill Johnson said. Lower enrollment last fall forced the college to first trim operating budgets and dip into a contigency fund before turning to staff reductions, she said.

University of Louisiana cutting $3.3M from budget - Claire Taylor, the Advertiser

2012-01-16T05:10:00.004-06:00

UL is cutting $3.3 million from its 2011-12 budget because of projected state shortfalls, but President Joseph Savoie said he is protecting faculty, staff and core academics. The state, last month, announced an additional $50 million cut in higher education funding. This is the fourth consecutive fiscal year UL has been forced to cut its budget, Savoie said. The university implemented cuts earlier this fiscal year, which ends June 30. The cuts will fall into three main areas: Centers, acquisitions and athletics.

New Republic: Belt Tightening on College Costs - Kevin Carey, NPR

2012-01-16T05:10:00.001-06:00

Over the last three decades, through good economic times and bad, one of the few constants in American life has been the relentless rise in the price of higher education. The numbers are stark: According to the non-profit College Board, public four-year universities raised tuition and fees by 8.3 percent this year, more than double the rate of inflation. This was typical: Over the last decade, public university tuition grew by an average of 5.6 percent above inflation every year.And the problem is also getting worse: In the 1990s, the annual real increase was 3.2 percent. In the 1980s, it was 4.5 percent.

Connecticut To Eliminate 24 Top-Level Higher Education Jobs: Savings Expected To Near $5 Million - KATHLEEN MEGAN, Hartford Courant

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

State officials have promised for months that the higher education merger would save millions of dollars, but it wasn't clear until now exactly when and how those savings would be made. This week the state Board of Regents for Higher Education released a list of 24 positions that will be eliminated in the state university and community college systems, mostly high-paying administrative jobs with an average salary of $141,000. "I think it will be close to $5 million, if not a little over" in savings, said Michael Meotti, executive vice president of the new Board of Regents for Higher Education. A listing of the jobs, including assistant vice chancellors and human resource and finance administrators, says the total saved will be $4.734 million.

N.S. universities face 3 % cut in 2013 - CBC

2012-01-15T05:08:00.001-06:00

Nova Scotia universities are facing further budget cuts of up to three per cent in 2013, CBC News has learned. Universities were told months ago to plan for another $10 million budget cut next year, the government said Monday. It's part of a plan that will see university grants reduced by 10 per cent over three years. Last week, the provincial government announced a three-year memorandum of understanding with university presidents. The province's 11 universities will get a grant of $324 million for 2012-13 — three per cent less than they received for this academic year.

Corbett's call for budget freeze unwelcome at Shippensburg University - MORGAN YOUNG, Public Opinion

2012-01-15T05:05:00.001-06:00

A mid-year budget freeze requested by Gov. Tom Corbett for the State System of Higher Education has some local educational organizations up in arms.
The request, which stops about $160 million in allocated funds for all state agencies, freezes about 3 percent of the funds for state universities and colleges. The cut comes six months after the governor signed a budget that reduced funding for the State System by 18 percent. "We are absolutely and unequivocally opposed to this request," said Debra Cornelius, former president of the Shippensburg University Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Facilities and a professor of sociology at the school. "This request shows the governor's lack of respect for the hard-working families of Pennsylvania. It really is cheating the students and their families out of the high quality education they deserve." Larger class sizes and a reduction in student services are just some of the results Cornelius said have occurred as a result of the June budget cuts.

Tax break for students sought in Calif. bill - Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle

2012-01-15T05:00:00.001-06:00

As tuition steadily climbs at California's public universities, low-income students turn to financial aid for help and high-income students to the family bank account. But middle-class students, who do not qualify for financial aid, often have nowhere to turn and simply don't enroll. A state lawmaker is hoping that a tax break of up to $500 per year for each student from a family earning $80,001 to $140,000 would help.

Florida lawmakers' focus turns to higher ed - Florida Today

2012-01-14T05:10:00.001-06:00

Last year, Florida legislators made historic changes to education. Tenure for new teachers was eliminated. Instructor evaluations were revamped and linked to student test scores. And a new compensation system was passed to reward those whose students achieve the highest gains. In the 2012 session, which starts Tuesday, the focus is likely to shift from K-12 to higher education. Gov. Rick Scott and others say they want to find ways to make the state university system more effective and boost the number of students graduating with degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Kiplinger ranks UNC best deal in the nation - Vinayak Balasubramanian, The Daily Tar Heel

2012-01-14T05:04:00.001-06:00

Despite years of budget cuts and tuition hikes, UNC-CH is still ranked as the best deal nationwide among public universities. The University remained at the top of Kiplinger’s “Best Values in Public Colleges” list in 2012 for in-state students, also topping the list for out-of-state students. UNC ranked as the best value for the 11th time since Kiplinger began ranking schools.

Top 5:

UNC
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va.
New College of Florida, Sarasota, Fla.

Princeton to pay more to municipalities - PATIENCE HAGGIN, Daily Princetonian

2012-01-14T05:00:00.001-06:00

Every year, the University makes a voluntary contribution to the Borough and the Township operating budgets in addition to its tax payments. This year, the University has increased its total community contribution — also called a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT — to $1.7 million, University officials announced last month.
In 2011, the University made a contribution of $1.2 million to the Borough operating budget as the last annual gift under a six-year agreement. In 2012, the University will contribute $1.7 million to the Borough, of which $250,000 is to be used for transition expenses incurred as the two municipalities consolidate under a single government starting on Jan. 1, 2013.

Community college makeover - Editorial, Los Angeles Times

2012-01-13T05:10:00.001-06:00

At this point, open access to higher education in California is more theoretical than real. Budget cuts have drastically reduced course offerings, making it extremely difficult for students to reach their educational goals. In 2009-10, nearly 140,000 entering students couldn't get into any classes because they had low priority in the registration system. Large numbers of students who are already attending community college are routinely shut out of courses they need to graduate or transfer. At the same time, other students meander through courses year after year, racking up far more credits than they need and taking up seats in classrooms. Many eventually drop out or never move out of the system at all. People who take courses for personal enrichment similarly fill classes that are needed by those aiming for degrees or specific training.

California state budget could cut $200M from UC system - J.D. Morris, Daily Californian

2012-01-13T05:05:00.000-06:00

U. California faces a $200 million state funding cut this year if voters do not approve Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed tax increases in November, according to Brown’s January budget plan announced Thursday. Brown anticipates that California will face a $9.2 billion deficit through June 2013 in the state’s general fund. In order to help mitigate the deficit, he hopes to raise the sales tax and certain income taxes through putting a nearly $7 billion ballot initiative before voters. Should the November ballot initiative fail, the plan’s $200 million cut to the UC would follow a year in which the system saw its budget hammered by $750 million in state budget cuts. But if voters approve the initiative, the plan provides an ongoing $90 million General Fund increase to the UC for base operating costs — funding which the plan states could be used for retirement program contributions.

Local colleges deal with more budget cuts - Matthew Albright, Houma Today

2012-01-13T05:00:00.001-06:00

Nicholls State University will lose $1.14 million and Fletcher Community College more than $203,000 because of a mid-year state budget shortfall. “Obviously, these cuts have affected the institution greatly,” said Nicholls President Stephen Hulbert in a news release. “Because of the continuous reductions and threat of further reductions, morale is down — making it difficult to maintain faculty and staff.” The cuts are the schools' share of a $50 million reduction Louisiana officials have handed the state's higher-education system to help close a $251 million mid-year budget gap caused by lower-than-expected government revenue.

LSU-Alexandria, NSU face more budget cuts - Bret H. McCormick, Town Talk

2012-01-12T05:10:00.002-06:00

Central Louisiana's two public universities -- Louisiana State University at Alexandria and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches -- will see a reduction of nearly $2 million between them in midyear budget cuts. They are among public colleges and universities across the state facing budget reductions during the second half of this fiscal year. Gov. Bobby Jindal and state legislators announced last week that $50 million will be removed from the state appropriations for higher education, part of a roughly $250 million hole that had to be filled in the state budget. The higher education cuts amount to roughly 5 percent of the state appropriations.

Higher ed is tackling new budget challenges - Sarah Eddington, News-Star

2012-01-12T05:04:00.001-06:00

Although continuing budget reductions will make 2012 another difficult year for higher education, campus leaders across northeastern Louisiana say they are up for the challenge. Another round of midyear budget cuts was implemented recently as part of higher education's $50 million share of the state's $251 million deficit — a move that resulted in the University of Louisiana System cutting $17.2 million, or 5.1 percent of its budget, and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System trimming $7.3 million, or 2.48 percent of its budget. While the new year is starting off with some unwanted belt tightening on an already cinched waist, area universities and colleges remain determined to meet their 2012 goals.

Editorial: Local colleges facing cuts and other challenges - Ventura County Star

2012-01-12T05:00:00.001-06:00

Students at community colleges in Ventura County are paying higher costs while finding fewer classes available and reduced services compared to a few years ago. These regrettable changes resulted from severe budget problems. Unfortunately, more painful cuts lie ahead for Moorpark College, Oxnard College and Ventura College. The three campuses are overseen by the Ventura County Community College District, which has a looming deficit of at least $11 million in the next fiscal year because of state budget reductions. Tuesday, the district's board of trustees is scheduled to review proposed program cutbacks at the three campuses. The trustees expect to vote on the cuts Jan. 17. In the meantime, furious debates are under way as individuals present their arguments for saving threatened programs, understandably so.

Officials: UMC layoffs to save $12M

2012-01-11T05:10:00.001-06:00

Wednesday's layoff of 115 University of Mississippi Medical Center employees and not filling another 90 positions will save $12 million annually, the vice chancellor for health affairs predicts. UMC's finances were in the red last year, a predicament that motivated the staff reduction, Dr. James Keeton said. "It is imperative that we align our costs with our revenues," Keeton said in a news release. "We have no other option." UMC, which employs more than 9,000, operates on an annual budget of $1.3 billion, of which 11 percent is funded by the state, mostly to support education. It is the state's only public medical school.

California’s Higher Education Disaster - Kevin Carey, the Quick and Ed,

2012-01-11T05:05:00.001-06:00

The California public higher education system is built like a three-layer ziggurat with a wide base and narrow top. In round numbers, every year about 400,000 students graduate from high school in California and half of them immediately go to college in-state. 30,000 top students are allowed to go to a UC campus. Another 50,000 or so enroll in the middle-tier California State University campus. The remaining 120,000 go to community college. There is no place for her, at first, in a four-year in-state public university. For the system to function effectively, therefore, students who start at community colleges need to be able to transfer into four-year universities to complete a bachelor’s degree. Usually, that means California State, which has historically taken more than four community college transfers for every one who is admitted to the more selective UC. As the chart shows, as recently as three years ago, CSU was taking 55,000 community college transfers a year. Two years ago, that number dropped by 2,000. In 2010, it dropped by another 12,000 students.

Major Mergers in Georgia - Paul Fain, Inside Higher Ed

2012-01-11T05:00:00.002-06:00

The recession’s prolonged impact has given state higher education leaders the chance to consider ideas that would be nonstarters in a better economy, like the proposed consolidation of eight public institutions in Georgia, which was announced Thursday.
The University System of Georgia’s plan would merge four pairs of institutions, reducing the number of colleges in the system to 31 (see factbox). None of the campuses would close under the proposal, but a varying range of administrative operations will be combined and jobs will likely be cut, system officials said.

How to Get Cheaper College Textbooks - Ernest Trujillo, Fox News

2012-01-10T05:09:00.000-06:00

Like many students, you've probably spent a lot of money on college textbooks if you didn’t do your homework. It’s tempting to just swipe your card and just buy the books from the first vendor you come across. But the truth is that you could be losing thousands of dollars over the course of your college career because you didn’t take some time to learn the ins and outs of shopping for textbooks.The Internet is filled with different stores that claim to have the cheapest, most convenient way of buying and selling your college textbooks. This makes it more difficult for students because there are a plethora of choices. But there are a few things you should consider when deciding where to buy your next textbook.

State College Budget Cuts - KDLFI

2012-01-10T05:05:00.002-06:00

The latest round of budget cuts is having a major impact on higher education in the state. The UL system as a whole is looking to eliminate over 17 million dollars from their midyear budget. It's all in response to higher education's 50 million dollar share of the state's 251 million dollar budget for this year. Different individual universities will cut from their general budgets. UL Lafayette, the university with the largest enrollment and largest budget in the entire system, will have to make the biggest cuts. Dr. Savoie and his board will look to reduce the budget by three point three million dollars, which is five point one percent of its entire budget.

Student debt climbs above $25,000 - Aaron Orlowski, Rapid City Journal

2012-01-10T05:00:00.001-06:00

Area college undergraduates are graduating with an average of more than $25,000 of federal student loan debt, a number that has been creeping up in recent years. And with incoming freshmen able to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid starting Jan. 1, a new batch of students will soon learn how much debt they will need to take on. According to the schools' financial aid directors, recently graduated seniors from Black Hills State University graduated with an average of $27,000 of federal student loan debt, while South Dakota School of Mines & Technology students averaged $26,000.

Cutbacks mean college costs more - Alyssa Moni, Sentinel & Enterprise

2012-01-09T05:10:00.001-06:00

With nearly two-thirds of college students in Massachusetts carrying an average debt of $25,541 the commonwealth faces the prospect of even more borrowing by its young citizens and a drop in attendance at its long list of colleges and universities. "That is one thing we are going to be looking at over hopefully this next year," says Sen. Michael Moore, chair of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, who is concerned about the "the spiraling effect on the economy." Moore's goal is to bring down costs to students to help reduce further debt. But any relief the Statehouse might provide depends largely on Washington. With the continuing gridlock in Congress, the size of that aid is still up in the air.

College merger talks worth watching - Post Crescent Editorial

2012-01-09T05:05:00.001-06:00

Since a tightened budget means state institutions are being challenged to do more with less, now is a great time to experiment with efficiencies. That's why we like the idea two officials are exploring in the greater Milwaukee area. Rep. Paul Farrow and Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas plan to hold listening sessions on ways to improve collaboration between the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha County, a two-year school, and Waukesha County Technical College. They say they're open to ideas on what a partnership would look like.

McNeese State University to cut nearly $1.4 million from its general fund budget - Associated Press

2012-01-09T05:00:00.001-06:00

McNeese State University will have to cut nearly $1.4 million from its general fund budget. That's according to numbers released by the University of Louisiana System. The UL System is reducing its mid-year budget by $17 million in response to higher education's $50 million share of Louisiana's $251 million deficit in this fiscal year.

5 Colleges That Are Slashing Tuition Costs - Marc Davis, San Francisco Chronicle

2012-01-08T05:10:00.001-06:00

As the cost of a college education rises every year, more young people, and their parents can hardly afford the expense of attending an institution of higher learning. Although college costs vary widely, with thousands of dollars in the difference between the most expensive to the least expensive schools, the trend over the past several years has been upward. College bound students and their parents are urged to diligently and persistently search the internet and other sources for the best college and university deals. Not all colleges and universities are raising tuition. Among the institutions slashing costs this year are the following five. (click on header to read the report)

Joining Trend, College Grows Beyond Name - TAMAR LEWIN, NY Times

2012-01-08T05:05:00.001-06:00

Northeastern, known for its co-op program in which undergraduates spend significant amounts of time in the workplace, opened its first satellite campus this fall in Charlotte, N.C., and is planning a second in Seattle next year; outposts in Austin, Tex., Minnesota and Silicon Valley are under discussion. The goal is to offer master’s degrees in industries like cybersecurity, health informatics and project management, matching programs with each city’s industries and labor needs, through a mix of virtual learning and fly-ins from professors based in Boston (tuition will be the same as at the main campus).

Mass. lawmakers may look at cost of college.By Alyssa, MetroWest Daily

2012-01-08T05:00:00.001-06:00

With nearly two-thirds of college students in Massachusetts carrying debt of about $25,000, concerns are growing about whether students and insitutions can keep up. “That is one thing we are going to be looking at over hopefully this next year,” said Sen. Michael Moore, chairman of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, who is concerned about the “the spiraling effect on the economy.” Moore’s goal is to bring down costs to students to help reduce further debt. But any relief the State House might provide depends largely on Washington. With the continuing gridlock in Congress, the size of that aid is still up in the air.

Community College Budget Cuts Drive Students To For-Profit Schools - Chris Kirkham, Huffington Post

2012-01-07T05:10:00.001-06:00

Just after she started working for an ambulance company in this suburban enclave east of Los Angeles, Cierra Nelson came to admire the quick decision making and street smarts of the nurses she met on runs to local hospitals. She soon opted to pursue a nursing degree, settling on a low-cost, two-year program at a nearby community college that has an excellent job placement record. But despite her efforts to complete the coursework in the ensuing four years, Nelson is still not a nurse. California's budget cuts have forced the state's community college system to scale back the availability of crucial science classes. Nelson found herself repeatedly turned away from the oversubscribed courses required for her degree. Frustrated and seeking an alternative, she took out more than $50,000 in student loans to enroll last winter in a nursing program at Everest College, one of many for-profit institutions that have sprung up in the area amid massive cutbacks in public funding for higher education.

Less money available in 2012 for Illinois college students - Wendell Hutson, Chicago City Hall Examiner

2012-01-07T05:05:00.001-06:00

When Antonio Solsberry graduated from Hales Franciscan High School on Chicago's South Side in 2009 his goal was to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology four years later.
But as 2012 quickly approaches Solsberry, 21, is struggling to finish college due to state budget constraints, which are hindering his ability to stay in school. “I attended a private college in Missouri my freshman year but it became too expensive so I decided to transfer to an Illinois college so I could receive more financial aid,” explained Solsberry. “The reality though is that I am receiving less financial aid now than when I was an out-of-state student.” The state’s grim financial position has resulted in cuts to colleges particularly the Monetary Award Program, whose budget was reduced by $17.2 million.

State revenue rises, but not enough to offset cuts - Associated Press

2012-01-07T05:00:00.001-06:00

College students clash with administrators over steeply rising tuition. Public employees shut down statehouses amid cuts to pay and retirement benefits. Teachers and social welfare advocates protest budget cuts. Lawmakers struggle to cope with sharp declines in tax revenue. If government budgets were once an eye-glazing topic, they moved to the top of the public agenda in 2011 as state and local governments faced some of their most difficult decisions since the national recession began in late 2007. A fourth year of declining tax revenue meant deep spending cuts and, in many states, a rethinking of the role of government and the scope of the services it should provide.
Budget experts expect last year's tumult to give way to somewhat steadier times in 2012, as tax revenue continues a slow rebound. But few budget planners are celebrating, as cautious optimism about an uneven economic recovery is leading to subdued expectations.

Michigan feels strain of college costs - Mike Wilkinson, Detroit News

2012-01-06T05:10:00.000-06:00

Analysis shows tuition in state is among the nation's most expensive. Declining state aid and rising costs have made getting a top-notch education in Michigan among the most expensive in the country, gobbling up parents' savings and saddling graduates with tuition bills that typically are far higher than their peers across the country, according to a Detroit News analysis of national education statistics. At the University of Michigan, one year's tuition is now equal to more than 26 percent of the state's median household income — more than double what it is in Florida. In 2010-11, U-M's in-state tuition and fees hit nearly $11,837, according to the National Center for Education Statistics; the University of Florida charged state residents $5,044, or just 11 percent of median household income.

Budget Cuts Mean Possible Tuition and Fee Increase At SIU - WJBD, Carbondale

2012-01-06T05:06:00.001-06:00

Students at Southern Illinois University are looking at a possible increase in tuition and fees. The school's budget is being stripped of about ten-million dollars by the state next year. The Carbondale campus is expected to lose about six-million dollars while the Edwardsville campus stands to lose three million. University President Glenn Poshard says that could take things from bad to worse.

MIT’s new learning platform points to future of higher ed - Boston Globe Editorial

2012-01-06T05:00:00.002-06:00

MIT has made course materials available over the Internet for a decade. But MITx is far more ambitious; the institute describes it as an “interactive online learning platform’’ that will complement the classroom and lab experience for traditional residential students, while also creating new options for people around the world. Under the initiative, those who demonstrate mastery of material covered in MIT courses could obtain a certificate, which they can then show to employers and others. The institute could reinforce its image - and potentially create new revenues through fees that it could reinvest in academics. Meanwhile, MITx also represents an important milestone for distance learning, an idea once seen mainly as a mere substitute for face-to-face education but has promise all its own.... Such developments offer all the more reason for local institutions not to take their current success for granted - and for Boston-area universities to be at the forefront of reinventing the region’s signature industry.

State Budget Cuts Hurt Health, Higher Education And Essential Services The Most - RACHEL GOTBAUM, State Impact

2012-01-05T05:10:00.001-06:00

A look back at this year’s major state budget cuts shows who took the hardest hits in New Hampshire. As the Nashua Telegraph reports, with $1 billion slashed from the budget, more agencies than usual felt the effects. Republican legislators heralded the budget as a victory for smaller government, shaving more than $1 billion, or 11 percent, off the prior spending plan. But many state Democrats decried the budget for digging too deeply into some of the state’s most essential services and programs. Hospitals lost more than $115 million and laid off more than 1,000 staffers. The state university system endured record budget cuts and saw its coffers trimmed by 45 percent. As a result, 200 employees in public higher education lost their jobs. The Department of Transportation faced a 13 percent cut and also cut its workforce.

Education sees many changes with cuts, layoffs, charters - Will Bigham, Daily Sun

2012-01-05T05:05:00.002-06:00

For educators and educational institutions, 2011 was marked by slashed budgets, layoffs and a college faculty labor dispute. Hundreds of local teachers were among thousands of educators issued pink slips statewide, with school boards and administrators citing shrinking tax revenue as the primary reason. Sluggish finances were also cited in the closures of two local schools: Mendoza Elementary School in Pomona and St. Anthony Catholic School in San Bernardino. A dispute over compensation led Cal State University faculty members to strike in November.

No simple solution to universities’ budget woes - Matthew Cameron, editor of the Univ of Virginia Cavalier

2012-01-05T05:00:00.001-06:00

Those mobilizing to oppose cutbacks and tuition increases at public universities continue to misdirect their anger toward administrators and regents rather than toward state and national politicians. Although activists are right to point out that administrators and board members at some public institutions are sitting on large endowments, a substantial portion — about 70 percent at the University of Virginia — of those funds is restricted to specific purposes. Using endowment money to prevent tuition hikes or academic cutbacks is not a long-term solution. Instead, it is necessary to attack the root causes of the growing expense of higher education and the so-called “privatization” of public universities. In Virginia, this means asking state politicians how they can justify reducing higher education funding when the state income tax has not been raised since 1972.

UC-Berkeley and other ‘public Ivies’ in fiscal peril - Daniel de Vise, Washington Post

2012-01-04T05:12:00.002-06:00

Across the nation, a historic collapse in state funding for higher education threatens to diminish the stature of premier public universities and erode their mission as engines of upward social mobility. At the University of Virginia, state support has dwindled in two decades from 26 percent of the operating budget to 7 percent. At the University of Michigan, it has declined from 48 percent to 17 percent. Not even the nation’s finest public university is immune. The University of California at Berkeley — birthplace of the free-speech movement, home to nine living Nobel laureates — subsists now in perpetual austerity. Star faculty take mandatory furloughs. Classes grow perceptibly larger each year. Roofs leak; e-mail crashes. One employee mows the entire campus. Wastebaskets are emptied once a week. Some professors lack telephones.

LSU cuts in operating budget of $92. million since 2009 - Town Talk

2012-01-04T05:10:00.001-06:00

Louisiana State Univeristy has cut $8.1 million from its operating budget in response to mid-year budget cuts, the university said Wednesday. The reductions will affect academic units ($2.5 million dollars, or an average of 1.5 percent of each unit's budget); and non-academic units ($3.2 million, an average of 3.8 percent of their budgets). The university said it has "experienced a reduction in general state appropriations from $245 million to $153 million since January of 2009, a drop of $92 million in three years."

Lure of Chinese Tuition Squeezes Out Asian-American Students - Oliver Staley, Bloomberg

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

The University of California system, rocked by budget cuts, is enrolling record numbers of out-of-state and international students, many from China, who pay almost twice that of in-state residents, squeezing out high-achieving Asian-Americans. Kwanhyun Park, the 18-year-old son of Korean immigrants, spent four years at Beverly Hills High School earning the straight As and high test scores he thought would get him into the University of California, San Diego. They weren’t enough. The sought-after school, half a mile from the Pacific Ocean, admitted 1,460 fewer California residents this year to accept higher-paying students from out-of-state, many from China. “I was shocked,” said Park, who also was rejected from four other UC schools, including the top-ranked campuses in Berkeley and Los Angeles, even with a 4.0 grade-point average and an SAT score above the UC San Diego average. “I took it terribly. I felt like I was doing well and I failed.”

Familiar budget shortfall faces new Miss. leaders - Jeff Amy, Business Week

2012-01-03T05:00:00.003-06:00

The legislative plan already floated seeks to hold funding levels for K-12 schools and community colleges, but cuts university funding by 1.93 percent. Reeves and Gunn, R-Clinton, echoed Bryant's preference to protect schools. "We've got to make sure we don't compromise the quality of education we've got," Gunn said. Barbour proposed cutting 25 percent of vacant positions in the current budget year, and 25 percent more in 2013. It's unclear whether Barbour will have much influence this year. His budget document rehashes proposals, such as school and university consolidation, that originally won little legislative support.

Louisiana universities detail cuts - Sarah Eddington, News Star

2012-01-03T05:00:00.001-06:00

Three northeastern Louisiana universities are tightening their belts once again as the University of Louisiana System undergoes another round of midyear budget purges. The UL System recently announced it will be reducing its nine universities' budgets a total of $17.2 million, which equates to 5.1 percent of general funds for each university. The cuts are a result of higher education's $50 million share of the state's $251 million deficit, according to a news release from the UL System. The reduction comes from the system's total general fund budget of $336.2 million. All campuses were required to submit budget reduction plans to the Louisiana Board of Regents through the UL System office by Thursday.

Gov. Steve Beshear announces study to consider making private college a public university - ROGER ALFORD Associated Press

2012-01-02T05:10:00.001-06:00

A proposal to create a new public university in Appalachia will undergo a review, a critical first step in what proponents believe could provide an educational and economic stimulus to the mountain region. Gov. Steve Beshear ordered a study Tuesday to look into the "advisability and feasibility" of turning the private University of Pikeville into a publicly funded institution. "The University of Pikeville meets a regional need for quality education in Appalachia, and the school's growth illustrates its potential as an economic driver in the area," Beshear said in a statement. "Universities are economic drivers in their regions, producing well-educated and trained students who are prepared to enter the workforce."

State cuts unfairly target higher education - the Oskosh Northwestern Editorial

2012-01-02T05:06:00.001-06:00

The Walker administration delivered a lump of coal to the University of Wisconsin System just in time for the Christmas holiday, ordering the university system last Friday to shoulder more than a third of $123 million in budget cuts outlined in the state budget for next year. It’s not the first time the administration’s budgeting priorities did not align with the governor’s goal of creating 250,000 jobs over his four-year term. To be sure, there are many factors in encouraging job growth, including the tax and regulatory climate in the state. A well-trained work force and world-class research institutions are also essential elements in creating a vibrant and growing economy in Wisconsin.

UW-L Faces Budget Cuts - Kristen Barbaresi, WXOW

2012-01-02T05:00:00.001-06:00

Governor Walker's budget-reduction plan means the University of La Crosse will need to cut about $1.9 million over the next six months. But Chancellor Joe Gow says tuition won't increase because of these cuts, and jobs are safe, for now. "We were very fortunate that we didn't have to make any layoffs as a result of these cuts," Gow said. "But the thing that deeply concerns us is the picture for the 2013-2015 budget which we'll soon be looking at. And boy, that's gonna be tough." Chancellor Gow said they did expect more budget cuts and have some money in reserve. But now they'll have to put off some projects and purchases for the rest of the fiscal year.

Budget Troubles Force Layoffs at Southern University - Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

2012-01-01T05:10:00.002-06:00

In October, Southern University in Baton Rouge declared a financial emergency due to declining enrollments and cuts in appropriations from the state government. As a result of the declaration, Chancellor James Llorens announced that all employees earning more than $30,000 a year will receive a furlough during the academic year which will reduce their pay by 10 percent. The furloughs include tenured faculty. In another cost cutting move, the university decided to hold no classes on Fridays.

Faster college degrees a goal in Ohio - Encarnacion Pyle, The Columbus Dispatch

2012-01-01T05:05:00.001-06:00

Allison A. Barnes is only 18, but she’s already a senior at Ohio State University. Barnes officially enrolled at Ohio State this past summer. But she had been a full-time student at OSU since the end of her sophomore year in high school and has taken classes every summer, too. So by the time she was supposed to start at OSU as a freshman, the Northwest Side native already had accumulated an unprecedented 126 credit hours — three years’ worth of college credits. “I didn’t expect to finish all of my high-school classes in my first two years,” Barnes said. “I was only 15 when I started going to college. I wasn’t even old enough to drive yet, and I didn’t tell anyone in my classes my age.” State officials are hopeful that in the coming year, more teens like Barnes will get a jump-start on college while still in high school, saving them money and time.

State community colleges set to ration classes - Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle

2012-01-01T05:00:00.003-06:00

Community colleges plan to focus on essential classes only. During World War II, there was food rationing. In 2012, California's community college leaders are poised to approve education rationing for thousands of students. The proposal is controversial, with many students and educators critical of a shakeout that could end free courses offered for generations, including classes such as music appreciation and memoir writing. Also squeezed out would be students who linger at college for years, sampling one class after another. The problem is as basic as a butter shortage. Essential classes are in critically short supply as the state's economic crisis lumbers on.

Coloradans Might Have to Borrow More Student Loans if Budget Cuts Continue - Shannon Rasberry, Student Loan Blog

2011-12-31T05:10:00.003-06:00

Colorado students are picking up a larger proportion of college costs than ever before and may have to borrow even more student loans to pay for college if state lawmakers approve yet another round of budget cuts for higher education. The poor economy and sharply increasing college tuition costs have combined to create a challenging situation for the state’s college students. A decade ago, the state picked up more than two-thirds of the tab for public college courses. Today, students pay two-thirds of the bill while the state pays one-third. Some state officials fear that if college costs continue to rise while the state’s higher education budget continues to suffer cuts, the state’s share may eventually become zero. “That’s clearly where we’re going,” Lt. Governor Joe Garcia said. “If things don’t change at all, it could be a matter of a few years.”

Advocates Hope To See MI College Grant Restored - Andrew Green, WSJM

2011-12-31T05:05:00.002-06:00

A federal grant to help students get into college has been taken away from the state of Michigan, as its plan for the education budget didn't satisfy the government's requirements. The College Access Challenge Grant would fund local college access networks, dozens of college advisers in high-need areas, and some scholarships...but Education Secretary Arne Duncan has so far chosen not to reconsider revoking it from the state. Brandy Johnson, of the Michigan College Access Network, says that's not fair to Michigan students.

Community college district forced to dip into reserves - Darleen Principe, the Thousand Oaks Acorn

2011-12-31T05:00:00.001-06:00

In the wake of Gov. Jerry Brown’s recent announcement of nearly $1 billion in new state budget cuts, the Ventura County Community College District is now planning to dip into its reserves to keep programs intact for the rest of the 2011-12 school year, officials said this week. Last Tuesday the governor pulled the trigger on funding cutbacks for higher education, K-12 public schools, school bus services and a number of other social services—reductions that were to be enacted if state revenues did not reach the level hoped for by the end of 2011.

Powell: What’s really behind UConn’s price increase? - Chris Powell, Acorn Online

2011-12-30T05:11:00.002-06:00

Reduction of state government’s financial support for the University of Connecticut, from 44% to 30% of operating costs over the last two decades, is partly behind UConn’s decision to raise its price to students by 17% over the next four years. But the university shouldn’t be let off the hook so easily. University officials say they want UConn to become “a great research university.” As UConn President Susan Herbst told the Board of Trustees the other day, “When you do not have strong faculty numbers, you invent less and you create less. The university that will cure cancer will be one where there are cancer researchers hired. The university that will invent the cleanest forms of energy will be the one where engineers are hired.” That’s a high-minded way of saying that most university professors would prefer not to have to teach.

Huntington U. foresees staff cuts amid shortfall - Devon Haynie, The Journal Gazette

2011-12-30T05:05:00.001-06:00

Huntington University officials are considering personnel cuts, increased fees and operational reductions as a means to eliminate a $1.5 million deficit in its 2012-13 budget. Officials say the proposed cuts, which have been questioned by some staff and students, are the result of lower-than-expected enrollment and the university’s increasing contribution to student aid. While the school was able to balance its $30 million budget this year by dipping into reserve funds, next year, officials said, they will run out of options if they don’t take action.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker calls for additional $123 million in budget cuts - Scott Bauer, Associated Press

2011-12-30T05:00:00.001-06:00

The University of Wisconsin System will have to cut another $46.1 million over six months, on top of a previously approved $250 million two-year reduction, under a detailed budget-balancing plan Gov. Scott Walker's administration released Friday. The new cut to UW was part of $123.2 million in additional reductions ordered to be made across state government. The amount in cuts was approved under the budget passed in June but not specified until Friday.

Portland State University administrators and faculty reach tentative contract agreement - Bill Graves, The Oregonian

2011-12-29T05:10:00.001-06:00

Mary King, an economics professor and the union's vice president for collective bargaining, called the contract disappointing because it will not compensate for inflation, losses to furlough days and wage freezes. PSU, she said, will continue to face challenges in recruiting and keeping good professors and maintaining good morale. She also objected to Gov. John Kitzhaber's 8.4 percent cap on salary increases for 2011-13. "Although state support accounts for only 11 percent of the PSU budget," she said,"the governor is controlling faculty salaries in a way that's destructive for our universities." The new contract, which takes effect Jan. 1, gives faculty a 3.1 percent across-the-board raise next year and another 3.1 percent raise in 2013. In addition, some faculty will qualify for a 1 percent pay raise each year – in the first for merit and in the second for merit or for equity to help bring their salaries up to levels at peer institutions. The faculty also will be required to pay 5 percent of their health insurance premiums.

Viewpoint: Federal government should cut Michigan some slack on college funds - The Muskegon Chronicle

2011-12-29T05:05:00.001-06:00

Federal officials say Michigan should have spent at least $34 million in general fund revenues on financial aid for students who attend private colleges in 2010. Instead, as Flanagan explains, the state spent $39 million on those scholarships. However, with general fund revenues down a staggering 18 percent, the state used a federal block grant for that purpose, not the over-stretched general fund. It is unlikely that either the lawmakers who approved that budget or the students who got those scholarships paused for a single minute to fret about which checking account the state used to pay the bill. But so far, that’s all federal officials seem to care about, ignoring how many students Michigan managed to help in the most difficult budget year in recent state history.

Lawmakers fear state budget cuts forced UConn tuition hike - Keith M. Phaneuf, CT Mirror

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000-06:00

Defending a plan to collect an extra $50 million per year from students by 2016, University of Connecticut officials said Monday that represents the cost of adding nearly 300 faculty. But another way of describing the extra student costs is that they also match a hole punched into UConn finances in recent months by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the legislature. And since UConn has saved enough money to cover the teacher positions through an efficiency effort launched in 2010, key legislators questioned Tuesday whether the tuition hike was needed to expand faculty, or to help balance the state budget?

Budget cuts will cost us later - Los Angeles Times Editorial

2011-12-28T05:05:00.002-06:00

There's such a thing as tightening our collective belt or making do with less. When that happens, Californians raise fees or close another public office for a few additional days or cram a few more students into an already full classroom without screaming too loudly about it. But something entirely different is happening now: California is becoming a state that lets down its elderly, its disabled, its children and its college students in fundamental ways that will harm all of us in the years ahead. On Tuesday, Gov. Jerry Brown announced another $1 billion in new state cuts touching all of those groups. The lion's share — about $530 million — are aimed at education.

College presidents finalize proposed program cuts - Jean Crowden Moore, Ventura County Star

2011-12-28T05:03:00.002-06:00

The presidents of Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges have made their final recommendations on programs to cut — lists that include sports, music and interior design. The Ventura County Community College District board, which oversees the colleges, will review the recommendations Jan. 10 and vote on them Jan. 17. The district is facing an $11 million deficit next fiscal year. "These cuts are a very small part of the reduction that will be necessary," Chancellor James Meznek said. The district is considering cutting more jobs and shortening the work year.

College students work full-time, reap benefits afterward - Yasin Mohamud, Associated Press

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000-06:00

Even with student loan debt totaling $1 trillion and a weak job market, some University of Minnesota students will graduate debt-free because they worked their way through college. More than 60 percent of University students graduated with debt in 2010. The average student left with more than $27,000 in student loan debt. But some students are able to earn the cost of tuition and living expenses by balancing school work with full-time jobs. For Tim Clemens, graduating without debt could be a reality. Though paying for school on his own wasn’t his choice, the anthropology junior would not have it any other way. Clemens worked two jobs while still keeping up with five courses this semester and plans on doing the same thing next spring.

State Cuts Another $100 million from CSU’s Budget - CSU Chancellor’s Office

2011-12-27T05:10:00.001-06:00

State funding support for the California State University will be cut an additional $100 million this year as a result of lower-than-projected state revenues. The cut will be permanent. The CSU has already sustained a $650 million permanent reduction in the current budget. The budget signed by the governor in June relied heavily on revenue projections to close an estimated $26.2 billion state budget gap and included the possibility of an additional $100 million cut to the CSU if those projections were not met. The additional cut reduces the university’s funding to $2 billion and is a 27 percent year-to-year reduction in state support. It is the lowest level of state support the system has received since 1997-1998, but the university is serving an additional 90,000 students.

Protestors advocate for faculty, staff raises at BOG meeting - Lisa Berkman and Anastasia Millicker, Rutgers Daily Targum

2011-12-27T05:05:00.001-06:00

Several faculty and staff members protested during yesterday’s Board of Governor’s meeting, which ended with a closed session that did not have public comment. Before the meeting outside Winants Hall on the College Avenue campus, a table was set with a toy bone on a plate surrounded by chalices. Garlands strung with cards written to the Board of Governors decorated a wooden Christmas tree on the square lawn of Old Queens — all part of the demonstration against the salary freeze of unionized workers. “What we’re doing here is the Board of Governor’s feast,” said Mieke Paulsen, a graduate student and teaching assistant. “They feasted on funding for the last several years. The Scarlet Knight was eaten down to the last bone.” The salary issue and those decisions are ongoing within the University, said E.J. Miranda, a University spokesman. “When I can’t pay my bills, worry about feeding my kids, while paying off student loans, it’s a problem,” Paulsen said.

Kentucky leaders discuss making University of Pikeville a state school - Bill Estep and Beth Musgrave, Herald-Leader

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

There is a move afoot to make the private University of Pikeville a state-supported school, and lawmakers could be asked to consider the proposal in the upcoming legislative session. It's been four decades since the legislature last took a private, four-year university — the University of Louisville — into the state's public higher-education system, so adding Pikeville is a significant public-policy issue. The idea raises concern among officials at other state universities that bringing Pikeville into the system could eat into their funding.

Editorial: Higher education should not lose in budget game again - STL Today

2011-12-26T05:10:00.002-06:00

Like a sixth-year college student bailing on finals week, Missouri's elected officials have given up on higher education. The state's long descent into the lowest tier in the nation for taxpayer support of colleges and universities began in 2001. Despite lofty rhetoric from governors and lawmakers about how education is vital to economic development, Missouri remains near the bottom. However, when it comes to cutting corporate taxes, which does very little to promote real economic development, Republican lawmakers and their Democratic soul-mate, Gov. Jay Nixon, almost always are up to the challenge.

Officials, students testify on college funding decline - Patrick Malone, CSU-Pueblo Chieftan

2011-12-26T05:08:00.001-06:00

Colorado’s funding for colleges has been in steady decline since 2008. But what if it went away altogether three years from now? The Joint Budget Committee posed that question to every state-supported college in the state. The answers that came back on Monday were universal: tuition would double, administrative and academic departments would be eliminated, college employees would lose their jobs and students without the means to pay higher tuition out-of-pocket would never get in the doors. Already, colleges in Southern Colorado and elsewhere are deferring necessary maintenance, replacing full-time instructors with less costly adjunct faculty who have less time with students and increasingly relying on online courses that demand less overhead than their brick-and-mortar counterparts.

UConn trustees OK 17-percent hike in school costs - PAT EATON-ROBB, Business Week

2011-12-26T05:00:00.000-06:00

University of Connecticut trustees voted without dissent Monday to approve an increase in tuition and other student costs totaling 17 percent, which will be phased in over four years starting next fall under a plan to hire more faculty. The measure approved on a voice vote is designed to raise about $50 million by increasing tuition and other fees by between 6 percent and 6.8 percent annually, from the current level of $10, 670 for an in-state student to $11,902 next year and $13,130 in the 2016 fiscal year. Room and board also will increase by 3 percent each year.

What if there’s no money? - Todd Engdahl, Ed News Colorado

2011-12-25T05:05:00.001-06:00

College presidents pitched their institutions’ strengths and accomplishments to the Joint Budget Committee and other legislators Monday at the annual day-long hearing on spending for the state’s colleges and universities. But looming over the session was a bigger question – what happens if there’s no tax support for higher education in the future? “Enrollment is at an all-time high while funding, as we all know, is going in the opposite direction,” noted Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia, who’s also executive director of the Department of Higher Education. “We know that some of our institutions are on increasingly shaky financial ground.” Complete loss of state support “is a reality if we don’t change our [state] funding system in the next three to five years,” warned House Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.