California's colleges and universities face a
combined $1.4 billion in cuts in the next budget
year under a proposal laid out Monday by Gov.
Jerry Brown.
The University of California and California State
University systems would receive $500 million
less apiece from the state in 2011-12, obliterating
gains made in this year's budget. And the state
would cut $400 million from California's 112
community colleges, although a proposed fee
hike would make up for $110 million of that.
Statewide education leaders reacted to the news
with anger and disappointment. Cal State
Chancellor Charles Reed said the 23-campus
system would likely limit enrollment next year,
and UC President Mark Yudof noted that 2011
could be the first year tuition comprises a larger
portion of the university's budget than state
funds.
"This is a sad day for California," Yudof said in a
written statement. "The crossing of this threshold
transcends mere symbolism and should be
profoundly disturbing to all Californians."
Reed criticized the budget proposal, saying,
"Higher education is the state's main economic
driver, and we cannot improve our economy
without an educated workforce."
Brown also proposed a 38-percent fee hike --
from $26 per unit to $36 -- at the community
colleges, although he acknowledged that financial
aid would cover the added cost for nearly half the
2.8 million or so students. Compared to today's
average price of $780, the average student would
pay about
$1,080 per year, still the nation's lowest fees by
far.
He also suggested the colleges could cut costs by
counting students later than the third week of
class, when the so-called "census" is now
conducted in order to determine state funding.
Close to one-fifth of community-college students
drop out after the third week, so a later census
date would lead to lower per-student funds.
Past cutbacks have left community college
students scrambling to find classes, and that will
only get worse next year, said Jack Scott, the
community college system's chancellor. As
many as 350,000 students could be turned away
in 2011-12 if Brown's proposal passes, he said.
"There are a lot of students who would be OK
with paying $10 more per unit if it meant they
were going to get a class," he said. "But I think a
lot of students are going to be disappointed."
The new governor lamented the cuts, but said
higher education was one of the few flexible parts
of the state budget.
"I don't like that we're cutting back there," Brown
said at a news conference.
In his written statement, Yudof said UC leaders
would try to avoid raising tuition -- which already
was increased 8 percent for the 2011-12 school
year -- and would do what they could to protect
academics and research. UC chancellors will
report back to him within six weeks on possible
areas to cut funding at the 10 campuses, Yudof
said.
The proposed cutbacks most likely will look
much like those of two years ago, when UC
imposed unpaid furloughs and shortened library
hours, said Steve Boilard, higher-education chief
for the state's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's
Office.
But measures such as furloughs may not save
the university enough money, especially without
higher tuition, said Patrick Lenz, the UC system's
budget chief. Campuses could be forced to cut
academic programs and lay off workers, he said.
"We've got a structural deficit of over a billion
dollars," Lenz said. "We'd have to do something
to provide an ongoing solution, and furloughs
don't do that."
Students likely will notice the cutbacks, no matter
how they pan out, Boilard said.
"You can't absorb a $500 million cut without
changing what UC fundamentally is," he said.
"We're talking about making some real changes."
Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17057898?nclick_check=1
combined $1.4 billion in cuts in the next budget
year under a proposal laid out Monday by Gov.
Jerry Brown.
The University of California and California State
University systems would receive $500 million
less apiece from the state in 2011-12, obliterating
gains made in this year's budget. And the state
would cut $400 million from California's 112
community colleges, although a proposed fee
hike would make up for $110 million of that.
Statewide education leaders reacted to the news
with anger and disappointment. Cal State
Chancellor Charles Reed said the 23-campus
system would likely limit enrollment next year,
and UC President Mark Yudof noted that 2011
could be the first year tuition comprises a larger
portion of the university's budget than state
funds.
"This is a sad day for California," Yudof said in a
written statement. "The crossing of this threshold
transcends mere symbolism and should be
profoundly disturbing to all Californians."
Reed criticized the budget proposal, saying,
"Higher education is the state's main economic
driver, and we cannot improve our economy
without an educated workforce."
Brown also proposed a 38-percent fee hike --
from $26 per unit to $36 -- at the community
colleges, although he acknowledged that financial
aid would cover the added cost for nearly half the
2.8 million or so students. Compared to today's
average price of $780, the average student would
pay about
$1,080 per year, still the nation's lowest fees by
far.
He also suggested the colleges could cut costs by
counting students later than the third week of
class, when the so-called "census" is now
conducted in order to determine state funding.
Close to one-fifth of community-college students
drop out after the third week, so a later census
date would lead to lower per-student funds.
Past cutbacks have left community college
students scrambling to find classes, and that will
only get worse next year, said Jack Scott, the
community college system's chancellor. As
many as 350,000 students could be turned away
in 2011-12 if Brown's proposal passes, he said.
"There are a lot of students who would be OK
with paying $10 more per unit if it meant they
were going to get a class," he said. "But I think a
lot of students are going to be disappointed."
The new governor lamented the cuts, but said
higher education was one of the few flexible parts
of the state budget.
"I don't like that we're cutting back there," Brown
said at a news conference.
In his written statement, Yudof said UC leaders
would try to avoid raising tuition -- which already
was increased 8 percent for the 2011-12 school
year -- and would do what they could to protect
academics and research. UC chancellors will
report back to him within six weeks on possible
areas to cut funding at the 10 campuses, Yudof
said.
The proposed cutbacks most likely will look
much like those of two years ago, when UC
imposed unpaid furloughs and shortened library
hours, said Steve Boilard, higher-education chief
for the state's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's
Office.
But measures such as furloughs may not save
the university enough money, especially without
higher tuition, said Patrick Lenz, the UC system's
budget chief. Campuses could be forced to cut
academic programs and lay off workers, he said.
"We've got a structural deficit of over a billion
dollars," Lenz said. "We'd have to do something
to provide an ongoing solution, and furloughs
don't do that."
Students likely will notice the cutbacks, no matter
how they pan out, Boilard said.
"You can't absorb a $500 million cut without
changing what UC fundamentally is," he said.
"We're talking about making some real changes."
Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17057898?nclick_check=1
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