THere are a few states with increased higher ed budgets, and the vast majority being slashed and burned. IF you read through these articles, you will find common threads in regard to party-lines, common issues, etc. Bottom line, there is a ware on higher education and science. The excuse is budgets; however, you can't milk a stone. It all boils down to lack of creativity, an general unwillingness of those benefitting form higehr education to do anything, and largely a disinterested populace who believes whatever tripe is shoved down their throat by part-sponsored news agencies. I feel for the new graduates who are hoping to get a job, its hard enough when you have been let go as a line item and have some cv to shop around. These people just keep making things worse through ineptitude and ignorance.
*Some General responses....................* Apparently, most states are increasing out-of-state enrollment an decreasing in-state enrollment due to cuts. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-01/colleges-look-to-out-of-state-students-amid-state-funding-shortages <http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-01/colleges-look-to-out-of-state-students-amid-state-funding-shortages> another article on the topic of state budgets & higher ed http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2016/03/28/states-must-protect-higher-education-from-budget-cuts I keep hearing stories from certain family members that higher ed is a waste of time based on fox news reports. I don't agree, but , I'm and part-time employed PHD, and most of them are employed, about to retire or retired highschool/college drop outs. Maybe they are right? https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/04/07/lincoln-project-report-offers-suggestions-public-research-universities-financial A report from the Lincoln Project, which has been studying public research universities since 2013. Final report was issued yesterday, with wide-ranging suggestions for financial futures of these institutions. Lawmakers hiked tuition faster than schools did.. http://interactives.dallasnews.com/2016/tuition-costs/ *Alabama................................................* The $6.28 billion budget approved is the largest Education Trust Fund since 2008, before the Great Recession led to an ebbing of state revenues. The 2017 ETF is about $290 million higher than the current budget, an increase of about 4.8 percent. http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/southunionstreet/2016/03/08/ala-house-approves-education-budget-teacher-pay-raise/81437740/ *Alaska...................................................* Alaska is a good example - cuts have been proposed on the order of 10-20% (and more, if you count cuts in the last couple years). Programs have been lost already - fairly grim. Also look into the situation in Alaska. Here are some links: http://www.adn.com/article/20160127/university-alaska-leaders-plan-restructure-campuses http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/14/alaskas-schools-face-cuts-at-every-level-over-oil-collapse.html http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/15/us/oil-collapse-drains-alaskas-wide-ranging-education-system.html?_r=0 *Arizona.....................................................* http://tucson.com/news/local/education/college/tuition-rate-hikes-ok-d-for-arizona-universities/article_5b5b3e8d-925f-5738-9cdd-950f82a7c6b7.html *Arkansas...................................................* facing $100M budget hole, some congressmen calling for $14B in higher ed cuts http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/19/analysis-arkansas-lawmakers-shop-competing-budget-/ *Colorado.......................................................* Uncertain how this impacts universities... http://gazette.com/skirmishes-over-proposed-25.8-billion-colorado-state-budget-continue-in-legislature/article/1573646 *Connecticut..............................................* The committee and Malloy proposed cutting UConn’s funding next fiscal year by $15 million under the committee plan, and the UConn Health Center would lose $6.4 million.The Board of Regents for Higher Education, which oversees the four regional state universities, 12 the community colleges and the online Charter Oak College, would lose $19 million in 2016-17. College officials have said the governor's proposed funding levels would leave them with sizeable shortfalls -- $18 milllion for the regents and $30 million for UConn." source: http://ctmirror.org/2016/04/06/budget-plan-offers-painful-cuts-but-remains-out-of-balance/ ) *Georgia.........................................................* http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/polkfishwrap/news/local/as-state-house-wraps-up-work-kelley-looks-to-the/article_c5bd3f46-fcd6-11e5-9612-bb9e3bec8df0.html *Hawaii..........................................................* Universe of Hawaii Manoa, the state's only research university, faces a $50 million cut. By a slight of hand, $50 M will be moved from operations of research units to "maintenance". The budget will be supposedly made whole through replacement with $50 M in federal funds which don't currently exist or are funds from NSF and NIH which can only be used for the purpose they were granted, mostly research projects, ship operations etc. Federal agencies have traditionally taken a dim view of the diversion of funds. We are waiting to see if the Legislature goes through with this. *Illinois....................................................................* Illinois has been without a budget for almost a year and may have to wait until after November to get one. State contracts for GAs and faculty doing research for the state are not being honored. The state is not paying the Monetary Assistance Program (MAP) grants that go to needy students. Community Colleges are laying off tenured faculty, and Chicago State University is preparing to shut down at the end of the month. At the same time, the state has already spent more than its revenues this year since consent degrees and court orders are forcing payments to almost all of its creditors besides higher ed. If you keep my name anonymous, feel free to include my story. The budget situation in Illinois is truly dismal. I'm about to finish a PhD at a public University in Illinois. I already moved out of IL and have no intention to return. With the risk of closure for smaller state-schools, undergraduates considering out-of-state universities, and massive pension obligations, there is a bleak outlook for hiring at the state level in academia or government. In ~6 months, I've only seen 1 job opportunity in my region of IL that could be a good fit. I recognize that funding to higher ed is threatened in other states too, but the scale of mismanagement in IL has forced me to take my chances elsewhere for a job in the sciences. *Kansas....................................................................* Unfortunately, as you are probably aware, the state of Kansas is suffering from the funding reduction brought on by tax cuts and KU is being required to face budget cuts in the coming year. I’m afraid that we have no flexibility because of our budget woes. (i.e. we are not hiring) *Kentucky.................................................................* 4.5% cut, followed by 9% cut in each of the next two years. http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2016/04/07/former-auditor-edelen-blasts-bevin-n-ky-speech/82718668/ Kentucky is having issues too: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article56718018.html The governor is cutting state funding to higher ed over the next couple of years. <goog_643750172> A <goog_643750172>ttorney General threatens to sue governor... http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/1/democrats-say-bevins-college-cuts-are-illegal/ *Louisiana..............................................................* Louisiana's budget has been catastrophic for the past several years and higher ed has been hit pretty hard (something like working with 40-50% of the state money they had in 2010). The last legislative session did create more revenue and, but I'm not sure if it was enough ( http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/03/louisianas_next_round_of_midye.html). We did get a new governor this year who appears to be more interested in funding higher ed... Louisiana state system is still in trouble I believe. *Minnesota................................................................* tuition frozen since 2013, enrollment declines at some schools, Governor asking for increased funding...... http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/04/06/minnesota-state-colleges-universities-budget-cuts *Mississippi............................................................* budget increased for higher education http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/19/some-skeptical-mississippi-senate-budget-proposal/81919962/ *Missouri......................................................................* Unfortunately the University of Missouri system is also facing budget restrictions from the state due to decreased enrollment and on-campus issues/ "personnel conduct" during the Fall 2015 semester. http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/education/turmoil_at_mu/university-of-missouri-enrollment-and-budget-picture-grim-for-fall/article_b1641e8c-d285-5118-9d0d-347ca50a413b.html http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/education/turmoil_at_mu/budget-plan-targets-click-salary-and-university-of-missouri-administration/article_932fe3c8-1f97-5ed1-bc7b-92acb165d975.html http://www.ctpost.com/news/us/article/University-of-Missouri-announces-budget-cuts-6880680.php It is almost like Missouri looks at Kansas and chooses to follow whatever disasterous or moronic policy the KS legislature implemented. *New Mexico......................................................................* $10M in cuts to NMSU.... http://nmpolitics.net/index/2016/04/proposed-cuts-to-employee-benefits-stir-controversy-at-nmsu/ *New York.........................................................................* Students protest budget cuts.. https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/03/19/cuny-m19.html *Oklahoma......................................................................* ECU absorbs $2.25M in cuts http://www.theadanews.com/news/ecu-cuts-positions-programs/article_6412d4f8-e724-11e5-beb3-53fe96e67563.html *Oregon..............................................................................* Regardless of how you feel about minimum wage, one thing it does do is raise tax revenue overnight. 5% of 7.50/hr = $0.38, on a 40 hr week = $780/yr 5% of 15/hr = $0.76, on 40 hr week = $1,560/yr That is alot of additional revenue, and state wages paid out are largely above min wage, so employees don't get adjustment, meaning a paycut for anyone above min wage. A lot of money for higher ed in decreased relative salaries and increased tax revenue. Then, there is this article.... http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/09/oregon-universities-hit-hard-by-minimum-wage-hike/ *Pennsylvania...................................................................* Middle States Commission on Higher Ed has questions due to budget impasse.. http://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/penn-state/article66726487.html *Puerto Rico....................................................................* University of Puerto Rico could be poster child of catastrophic budget, primarily due to political ineptness. *South Dakota.................................................................*. http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/education/2016/04/01/regents-freeze-tuition-south-dakota-universities/82517518/ http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/education/higher-education/south-dakota-looks-to-lure-away-iowa-students-with-tuition-break-20160404 *South Carolina.................................................................* http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/article70297652.html *Texas..................................................................................* http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2016-04-02/texas-lawmakers-say-funding-community-colleges-priority-next-session *Utah...............................................................................* http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865649837/Utah-schools-get-445M-funding-boost-new-direction-for-leadership-elections.html?pg=all *West Virginia...................................................................* http://www.thedaonline.com/opinion/article_62695250-f6ea-11e5-91f5-e3275a7d384e.html WV prepares for massive cuts to higher education http://www.routefifty.com/2016/04/west-virginia-higher-education-funding/127197/ *Wisconsin.......................................................................* http://www.wpr.org/budget-cuts-straining-already-stressed-uw-superior http://www.slate.com/articles/life/education/2016/03/university_of_wisconsin_and_the_aftermath_of_destroying_professor_tenure.html Univ. of Wisconsin System……our current governor and state legislature…need I say more? Thanks for all your thought provoking contributions to Ecolog. -- Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP Link to online CV and portfolio : https://www.visualcv.com/malcolm-mc-callum?access=18A9RYkDGxO “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law. "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
