( – promoted by Clark)
For those of us in higher education, we are holding our breath about what kind of cuts we will face and what kind actions we will need to follow to meet them.
The Holden cuts were devastating.
Nixon announced today that there will be no tuition increase in higher eduction if state funding remains at the same level.
More after the fold.
Here is the key paragraph.
At a news conference at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Nixon wouldn’t outline where he would seek those cuts. He said he had not included legislative leaders in his decision but that he and the university presidents would work to convince them to spare colleges from cuts.
In a follow up article, the Republicans are not completely against it.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, said he wasn’t surprised by the announcement, considering how hard university presidents had been lobbying Nixon. He said it’s a good promise, if the money exists to keep it.
“I’m pleased he’s taking this approach,” Nodler said of Nixon. “If the budget permits that, then I think it’s a good thing.”
If this is the starting of the discussion, higher education will not be devastated.
Note that this proposal will still mean that institutions of higher education will have to get by with less money next year (no increase in state money and no tuition increase, so no money for mandatory increases), but this is doable.
Let’s hope this proposal becomes law.
This is very smart politics. The onus is now on the General Assembly to appropriate the money in the budget so that universities won’t be placed in the position of having to raise tuition.
Im confused… In order to keep tuition the same for next year one of two things has to happen.
1. The state of Missouri will have to increase funding for higher education by about 7%. “which I highly doubt is going to happen.” I say this because for the past several years we have recieved about 3 1/2 to 4% annual increases for higher education and that still lead to about a 4% increase in tuition. “which most of that money went to faculty increases of about 4%”
2. Funding levels remain the same from the state and the university cuts programs, services, staff or no raises for employees in order to hold the line on tuition.
So which route are we taking because from what I gathered out of the press release it wasnt very clear and Dr. Yates stated that we will have to operate with less money next year.. So how do we do it with no tuition increase or making our own budget cuts!?!?