The leaders of three of Indiana's public universities told state budget officials Wednesday that they have made efforts to cut costs and hold down tuition, but they now need the General Assembly to boost funding for their schools.
During the first of two days of State Budget Committee hearings on higher education, Indiana State University President Daniel Bradley told members they "have an opportunity to make a major statement" about the direction of higher education.
"I would encourage you to look hard and evaluate the needs of higher education and — if at all possible — provide additional dollars for higher education in the next biennium," Bradley said.
The request for additional money comes as the State Budget Committee — a group of four lawmakers and the state budget director — prepares for the General Assembly's budget-writing session in 2013.
It also comes after several years of essentially flat funding for higher education.
In Fiscal Year 2009 — after several years of budget increases — the funding for public colleges, universities and student assistance reached a high of $1.78 billion. But the following year, Gov. Mitch Daniels implemented a cost-cutting plan meant to keep the state's budget in the black as tax receipts plummeted. That included cuts in money allocated to universities.
Since then, state funding for student financial aid has increased significantly, debt payments on university construction projects have leveled off and funding for university operations has fallen slightly.
This year, higher education funding is roughly $1.7 billion, about 4 percent less than it was at its peak.
Also in recent years, lawmakers have urged universities to keep their tuition increases to no more than about 4 percent, although the targets varied by school. The Indiana State board last year voted for higher increases but pulled back at the request of lawmakers, a move that cost the school about $1.6 million in annual revenue.
...
See the full article here:
