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What Other States are Doing Regarding Budget Cuts and Higher Education

Tying Tuition to Averages A Bad Idea

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sept. 8, 2011

Nevada suspended its tuition policy that was tied to national pricing trends and regional university pricing averages. Similar solutions have been presented in Louisiana, but have never been adopted. The Nevada situation shows that regional data is better used as a rule-of-thumb than a policy-setting mechanism.

Pennsylvania's Public Colleges will see State Support Drop by 19%, Not 50%

The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 24, 2011

Legislative leaders and the governor are discussing a deal to cut state funding for higher education by 19 percent in Pennsylvania.

Tennessee Coalition plans to Protest

The Tennessean, June 22, 2011

Opponents of recent program cuts at Tennessee State University are planning a protest at Friday’s meeting of the Tennessee Board of Regents. The protest comes after the university announced it would eliminate more than half a dozen majors – including physics, math and African studies – in a cost-saving move aimed at programs that produced fewer than a handful of graduates. Faculty and students say the smaller degree programs still have value.

U. of Minnesota President Rages about Big Cuts to Education

Grand Forks Herald, May 14, 2011

The day after lawmakers finished work on their higher education funding bill, University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks previewed how he would handle the cuts. A wage freeze. Employees paying more for health care. Layoffs.

Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship Drops in Funding

Miami Herald, April 29, 2011

College and university tuitions will rise by at least 8 percent just as the state’s most popular scholarship program shrinks by a fifth under a deal brokered between the House and Senate lawmakers who oversee higher education. Universities are expected to ask for an additional 7 percent tuition increase from the state Board of Governors. Bright Futures, the popular lottery-funded scholarship program, will decrease its awards by 20 percent. New qualifications for the awards — higher SAT scores and new community service requirements— would not go into effect until the 2013-14 school year. Not counting tuition increases, state spending on both colleges and universities dips due to the loss of nearly $200 million in federal stimulus funds.

North Dakota Legislature Approves Higher Education Budget

Grand Forks Herald, April 29, 2011

The North Dakota Legislature gave its final approval to the state’s higher education budget in one of the last actions of this legislative session. The bill combines funding for equity and tuition affordability and reduces the total amount by $1.4 million to $15.2 million. The funding will be distributed to campuses based on existing funding distribution formulas.

Michigan Legislators Show no Mercy to State Universities

The Detroit News, April 21, 2011

Michigan universities could expect a 15 percent loss in their funding if legislators continue on their track of higher education cuts.

Rhode Island Governor Attempts to Cut Back on Cuts to Higher Ed

University Business, April 19, 2011

Governor Lincokn Chafee has shaved off some of the cuts that will affect universities in the state, but university officials are still wary of the impacts of the budget cuts.

North Dakota makes Progress in Budget Cuts concerning Higher Education

University Business, April 20, 2011

Lawmakers working on North Dakota's university system have trimmed $2 million from suggested spending.

UCONN Provost speaks out on Cuts

University Business, April 18, 2011

In order to deal with the looming budget cuts, Provost Peter Nicholls has asked all college deans to create a base budget reduction of 1.5 percent for the upcoming fiscal year.

U. of Virginia Passes Tuition Increase

University Business, April 15, 2011

To offset budget cuts in higher education, the University of Virginia's Board of Regents approved a tuition increase by 8.9 percent in the upcoming school year. Besides the tuition, fees regarding housing and meal plans will also increase to help in the cuts occurring on campus.

Georgia Regents to Set Tuition

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 15, 2011

Tuition increases are practically an annual tradition for the 35 colleges in the University System of Georgia. But there's heightened concern among families this year because of changes to the HOPE scholarship, which used to pay all tuition for students who earned at least a 3.0 GPA. Now only the state’s brightest students -- about 10 percent of recipients -- will get full-tuition scholarships. For the rest the awards will equal 90 percent of current rates, meaning HOPE will not cover any tuition increases.

New Mexico Regents Approve Tuition Increase

The Daily Reporter, April 9, 2011

A 7.9 percent increase in tuition and fees was approved by New Mexico State University's Board of Regents.

Arizona Regents Vote on Tuition Increase

KVOA.com, April 7, 2011

University of Arizona may see an increase in tuition and fees by 22 percent, adding $1500 more to student tuition. Higher education budget cuts are calling for this major increase in student fees for all postsecondary schools in the state.

Utah Regents approve tuition increase

UVU Review, March 30, 2011

The Utah State Board of Regents approved a tuition rate increase at each of Utah’s public colleges and universities – Dixie, SUU, USU, U of U, Snow, Weber, SLCC and UVU. Regents voted to approve the increase in order to help keep the State’s higher educational institutions afloat after a 2.5 percent drop in state funding to colleges and universities last year. 

New Proposal would hike Kansas State tuition 4 percent

Kansas City Star, March 28, 2011

Kansas State officials are drafting a proposal that would for the first time bring more money to the university from students than from state funding.

Iowa Regents approve university tuition increases

BusinessWeek, March 28, 2011

The board approved a 5 percent tuition increase at the state's three public universities for all in-state undergraduates, in addition to higher fees, to offset dwindling state aid.

U. of Illinois vote for tuition increase

The News-Gazette, Mar 25, 2011

University of Illinois trustees unanimously voted for a 6.9 percent tution icrease-equalto 2.7 percent over each four years-despite students' plea.

ASU Students may lose future scholarship funding

Statepress.com, March 22, 2011

Arizona State University could be forced to reduce financial aid to students if the state approves budget cuts beyond Gov.' Jan Brewer's proposed $170 million plan.

Arkansas' Higher Education Institutions make a Pact

University administrators have created a 16-point Compact that will be used to better higher education policies in Arkansas through collaborating with legislatures and increasing transparency.

Flexibility -- But for (and From) Whom?

Inside Higher Ed, February 28, 2011

At an emergency hearing of the University of Wisconsin System's Board of Regents on Friday, attendees heard the chancellor of the system's Madison campus, Carolyn A. Martin, explained a proposal expected to appear in Walker's forthcoming budget Tuesday. Martin argued that separating the flagship from the rest of the system would both help Madison and not damage the system.

Colleges Seek Fresh Ways to Curb Ever-Rising Costs of Health Care

The Chronicle of Higher Education, February 27, 2011

At a time when most colleges are trying to cut costs or at least keep expenses flat, health-insurance benefits are proving to be an unpredictable and growing burden.

Rising costs have been a particular challenge for small institutions with limited resources and for public colleges with dwindling state support. 

Virginia Governor's Proposed Covenant With Colleges Defies Other States' Cuts

The Chronicle of Higher Education, February 27, 2011

Many state governors are proposing deep cuts in higher education this year. But Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, of Virginia, is bucking the trend by pledging to restore some of the cutbacks that public colleges have endured during the economic downturn, and proposing a measure that would provide institutions with a fair share of state money in the future.