University Business - April 2011 - (Page 6)

EDITOR’S NOTE Small Fixes for Big Problems I KNOW THAT SPRING IS FINALLY UPON US because my wife has started organizing her vegetable garden. The garden, like the start of baseball season and the sound of lawn mowers instead of snow blowers, is a sure sign of longer days and warmer evenings. The other sure sign, unfortunately, is the seemingly endless news reports of higher ed budget cuts, coupled with tuition hikes at both public and private institutions across the country. In all, 43 states have made significant cuts to their higher education budgets, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (www.cbpp.org). Colleges and universities—and students—are paying the lawmakers want state funds to build golf courses and hotels— price, and there doesn’t seem to be a way out. The University of Arizona, for example, wants to coun- in each of the five state parks. This is in a state that already has teract state funding cuts by raising tuition and fees by $1,790 more golf courses—over 1,000—than any other state. Still, there are some hopefuls signs. next year, a 22 percent hike. The budget proposed by Arizona Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has proposed a Governor Jan Brewer would also cut the state’s funding to budget that actually increases higher Maricopa County community colleges education funding by $10 million. It by $38.4 million, or 85 percent. Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln won’t close the funding gap, but it will Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corhelp hold back tuition increases. bett has proposed dramatic cuts to Chafee’s proposed New York Governor Andrew education, including cutting $625 budget increases higher Cuomo says he will reject tuition inmillion, or about 50 percent, of fundcreases in the state’s schools. Good news ing meant for 14 state-owned univereducation funding. for families perhaps, but the schools are sities, as well as Temple University, working through a 30 percent funding Penn State, Lincoln University, and reduction from the last three years. the University of Pittsburgh. And in Tennessee, officals at The University of the South, In Washington State, college and university leaders were told they would face $600 million in cuts in the next two said they would cut its $46,000 sticker price by 10 percent years—about half their previous funding—and that they next year, to end what it called the “tuition game.” True, these are Band-Aids on gaping wounds. But until the should prepare for an additional $180 million in cuts if tax revenue doesn’t improve. Either way, officials at the University economy improves, these measures and others like them may of Washington predict tuition will have to increase more than be the best we can expect. the 11 percent currently proposed. Florida students must wonder where the state’s priorities lie when they read that Governor Rick Scott’s proposed budget cuts $3.3 billion from overall education funding. Meanwhile, Write to Tim Goral at tgoral@universitybusiness.com. MCCC answers 90% of calls in 30 seconds or less. You could be a Model of Efficiency Too! See page 34. 6 | April 2011 universitybusiness.com http://www.cbpp.org http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business - April 2011

University Business - April 2011
Contents
Editor’s Note
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Behind the News
Sense of Place
Viewpoint
Financial Aid
Models of Efficiency
Shrinking the Desktop
All Things Transfer
Sudden Impact
Internet Technology
What’s New
End Note

University Business - April 2011