Rising tuition costs more than dollars and cents
By: Marie Leonard
Issue date: 3/8/10 Section: Opinion
Last Thursday, thousands of college students could be seen protesting tuition increases and budget cuts at universities all over the country. The protests stemmed from a movement in California last November where students had been protesting $1 billion budget cuts to higher education and the 32 percent hike in undergraduate tuition fees for the 2010-2011 academic year The University of California system approved late last fall.
California is not the only state where tuition at public universities has risen sharply over the past decade. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, tuition at public universities rose 86 percent from 2003 to 2009. Back in 2003, state legislators allowed university regents to begin setting tuition rates because of a $10 billion state budget shortfall. Because of this decision, the state cut revenue appropriations for education by 2 percent in 2003 and expected the regents to make tuition increases that would make up for the cutbacks. I may not be a math major, but an 86 percent increase over six years to make up for a 2 percent budget cut doesn't seem like it adds up.
Last year the state legislature passed a nonbinding resolution to urge state universities in Texas to limit tuition increases to no more then 3.95 percent. Although some universities in the state are still in the process of deciding what next year's increase will be, here at SFA the regents approved a 3.95 percent increase. The University of Texas at Austin approved a 5.4 percent increase for the 2010 academic year, and a 3.95 percent increase for the 2011-2012 academic year, adding up to an almost 10 percent increase over a two-year period. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University are considering 5 percent and 4.9 percent tuition hikes, respectively.
Although the Texas economy has fared better than those of most other states during the recession, the government is expecting a $10 to $16 billion budget shortfall in 2011. In order to prepare for the possible deficit, Gov. Rick Perry asked every state agency to create proposals cutting 5 percent of their budgets by last month. Although this possible 5 percent cut did not affect tuition hikes at SFA for the upcoming academic year, it is possible in the future if this plan does go into effect, tuition hikes at public universities will be even larger. Even though higher education is discussed the most, secondary and primary education would also be facing budget cuts.
California is not the only state where tuition at public universities has risen sharply over the past decade. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, tuition at public universities rose 86 percent from 2003 to 2009. Back in 2003, state legislators allowed university regents to begin setting tuition rates because of a $10 billion state budget shortfall. Because of this decision, the state cut revenue appropriations for education by 2 percent in 2003 and expected the regents to make tuition increases that would make up for the cutbacks. I may not be a math major, but an 86 percent increase over six years to make up for a 2 percent budget cut doesn't seem like it adds up.
Last year the state legislature passed a nonbinding resolution to urge state universities in Texas to limit tuition increases to no more then 3.95 percent. Although some universities in the state are still in the process of deciding what next year's increase will be, here at SFA the regents approved a 3.95 percent increase. The University of Texas at Austin approved a 5.4 percent increase for the 2010 academic year, and a 3.95 percent increase for the 2011-2012 academic year, adding up to an almost 10 percent increase over a two-year period. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University are considering 5 percent and 4.9 percent tuition hikes, respectively.
Although the Texas economy has fared better than those of most other states during the recession, the government is expecting a $10 to $16 billion budget shortfall in 2011. In order to prepare for the possible deficit, Gov. Rick Perry asked every state agency to create proposals cutting 5 percent of their budgets by last month. Although this possible 5 percent cut did not affect tuition hikes at SFA for the upcoming academic year, it is possible in the future if this plan does go into effect, tuition hikes at public universities will be even larger. Even though higher education is discussed the most, secondary and primary education would also be facing budget cuts.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Bob Burns
posted 3/07/10 @ 11:19 PM CST
Grow up. State is broke, and going to get broker. Free ride is over. Pay the real price for what you want or get on down the line. Protesting reality is lunacy. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 3/09/10 @ 9:14 AM CST
Good article. Finally Gov. Perry has it correct! Cut spending....it's that simple. I applaud SFA for making the necessary campus improvements, but should only have done so with the money it had. (Continued…)
Post a Comment