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The Courier-Journal
August 5, 2003
University presidents defend big tuition jumps
Lawmakers told more revenue may be needed
FRANKFORT, Ky. — At a hearing before legislators, university presidents
yesterday defended double-digit tuition increases for the coming academic year,
saying it was their only practical option in the face of two years of state
budget cuts.
University of Kentucky President Lee Todd, representing the state's eight public
campuses, also warned lawmakers that continued reductions will prompt the schools
to limit enrollment or eliminate programs.
"Tuition increases were really the only way for us to continue progress
toward the mandated goals" in the 1997 higher education reform law, Todd
said. "Yes, we raised tuition more than we would have liked, but the alternative
was capping enrollment and deeply cutting programs."
Todd also urged lawmakers to find additional revenue for the 2004-06 budget
cycle. Although he wasn't specific, proponents of increased revenue have called
for either higher taxes or expanded legalized gambling.
The university presidents found sympathy among some legislators on the joint
subcommit tee on postsecondary education .
"I hope the legislature takes its responsibility seriously this time and
doesn't pass a user tax on students and pat itself on the back and say we didn't
raise taxes," said Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, co-chairwoman of
the subcommittee.
Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, the other co-chairman, said the presidents
made a compelling case for the tuition increases and said he was willing to
further study their argument for more state dollars.
But he said there is little sympathy among Senate Republicans to increase taxes
or legalize additional gambling.
"I still think there's plenty of room to make our government more efficient,
and that may be the solution" to university budgets, Westwood said. "You're
not going to tax your way to prosperity."
He said he'd like to explore the idea of funding all education programs, from
preschool through college, under one spending plan instead of separating early
childhood programs, K-12 education and colleges in the budget.
According to the Council on Postsecondary Education, annual tuition and fees
at Kentucky's eight public universities will increase between 3.6 percent (at
Western Kentucky University) and 16.4 percent (at Northern Kentucky University)
this fall, compared to last year. UK's yearly tuition and fees will be the highest,
at $4,547.
Tuition and fees in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System will
increase 23.4 percent this fall to $1,896.
Todd called postsecondary education "the best investment the people of
Kentucky can make in their children." And he noted that many students receive
financial assistance — from the school, the state and the federal government.
Todd said increased tuition revenues at the universities helped to cover state
cuts, to hire new faculty needed because of increased enrollments, to provide
small salary increases for faculty and staff , and to pay for increased costs
of employee health insurance.
He said despite the tuition increases, enrollment at most campuses is expected
to increase this fall.
But he said universities might have to cap enrollment or cut programs if state
spending on higher education doesn't increase , because the schools can't continue
to raise tuition by double-digit percentages each year.
Joe Marks, director of education data services for the Southern Regional Education
Board, also testified yesterday. He told the subcommittee that:
Kentucky public university tuition and fees increased 21.2 percent between
1997 and 2002, adjusted for inflation. That compares with an increase of 16.8
percent nationwide and 27.9 percent in the Southeast. Still, Kentucky's average
tuition and fees for 2001-02, $2,800, was below national and Southeast averages.
Kentucky families whose income ranks among the lowest 20 percent in the state
are paying a higher percentage of their incomes to send a family member to college.
The average Kentucky tuition in 2001-02 represented 26.8 percent of a low-income
family's income, compared with 22.8 percent in 1997.
In Kentucky, 90 percent of first-time freshmen received some financial assistance
in 2001, compared with 76 percent nationally. Marks said the national figure
is an increase from about 55 percent 10 years ago.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
July 31, 2003
Bush Praises Community Colleges as 'Adaptable' and 'Accessible'
The Bush administration has indicated that it plans to be tough on colleges
as the Higher Education Act is renewed next year, but the president hinted Wednesday
that he approves of the job that community colleges are doing.
During his first news conference in months, President Bush was asked whether
his administration had plans for dealing with changes in the work force and
the economy. Mr. Bush replied that community colleges play an important role
in retraining workers.
"I look forward to working with our community colleges through the Department
of Education," he said. "They're more adaptable. Their curriculums
are easier to change. They're accessible. Community colleges are all over the
place."
Mr. Bush visited Northern Virginia Community College last month and toured
some nursing and information-technology programs there. David S. Baime, director
of government relations for the American Association of Community Colleges here,
said the president had shown a great deal of interest in the college's efforts
at training displaced workers.
"We certainly have been aware that the president has had a positive image
of community colleges since his time in Texas," said Mr. Baime. "But
we're still extremely pleased that he understands the role we play." Mr.
Bush served as governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.
Community-college officials have grumbled privately that the Bush administration
largely has ignored two-year colleges, not even bothering to appoint an official
community-college liaison in the Department of Education, a job that existed
under President Bill Clinton. The former president also visited community colleges
repeatedly and even mentioned them in a State of the Union address.
For his part, Mr. Baime was pleased to see community colleges in the limelight
on Wednesday. "For No. 43 to acknowledge us like this," he said, "it's
good PR."
American Association of Community Colleges Online
July 31, 2003
President Bush Praises Community Colleges
During a news conference, Wednesday, July 30, 2003, President Bush was asked
whether his administration had plans for dealing with changes in the work force
and the economy. Bush replied that community colleges play an important role
in retraining workers.
Read the full transcript of President Bush's news conference.
Excerpt from the news conference that mentions community colleges:
Q: Thank you, Mr. President. Staying with that theme, although there
are some signs of improvement in the economy, there are sectors in the work
force who feel like they're being left behind. They're concerned about jobs
going overseas, that technology is taking over jobs. And these people are finding
difficulty finding work. And although you're recommitted yourself to your tax
cut policy, do you have any ideas or any plans within the administration of
what you might do for these people who feel like there are fundamental changes
happening in the work force and in the economy?
THE PRESIDENT: Sure. Listen, I fully understand what you're saying.
In other words, as technology races through the economy, a lot of times worker
skills don't keep up with technological change. And that's a significant issue
that we've got to address in the country.
I think my idea of reemployment accounts makes a lot of sense. In essence,
it says that you get $3,000 from the federal government to help you with training,
day care, transportation, perhaps moving to another city. And if, within a period
of time, you're able to find a job, you keep the balance as a reemployment bonus.
I know the community colleges provide a very important role in worker training,
worker retraining. I look forward to working with our community colleges through
the Department of Education, coordinate closely with states, particularly in
those states in which technology is changing the nature of the job force.
I've always found the community college -- and this is from my days as the
governor of Texas -- found the community college to be a very appropriate place
for job training programs because they're more adaptable, their curriculums
are easier to change, they're accessible. Community colleges are all over the
place.
And -- but you're right. I mean, I think we need to make sure that people
get the training necessary to keep up with the nature of the jobs, as jobs change.
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