I am a concerned student at Kennesaw State University.
On Feb. 24th, the Atlanta Journal Constitution published an article entitled, “College tuition hikes get support from strapped lawmakers” (http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/2010/02/24/college-tuition-hikes-get-support-from-strapped-lawmakers/"
This article states that the Chancellor of the University System, Errol Davis, testified before a joint House-Senate budget committee to address the committee members questions about proposed budget cuts for the University System of Georgia.
The article states that the University System of Georgia would require a 77 percent tuition increase across the system’s 35 schools in order to meet the demand for a $385 million cut in the state’s higher education budget. Even if only $200 to $300 million is absorbed in the form of tuition increases, this would be an increase of around 50 percent for every University System of Georgia student.
In response to these proposed cuts, the Kennesaw State University Student Government Association has passed a resolution with recommendations to the Georgia Legislature. This resolution can be found at www.ksusga.com/resolution.pdf. Please take my SGA’s recommendations into consideration when passing the state budget for Fiscal Year 2011.
I just read the resolution that was crafted today (February 25). I like it!
ReplyDeleteJonathan Ellis
I'm not certain that the Georgia educational system is going to be able to handle a 77% increase in tuition. There are many at KSU who attend because of the institution's affordability and such an increase is going to drive them away from school. With the economy being what it is, the workforce cannot absorb thousands of unskilled workers with incomplete educations; particularly all at once. I am truly disappointed that the legislators can't seem to look in any other direction besides the schools to come up with the necessary funds. Have the legislators offered to be furloughed? What about the upper level politicians such as the Governor? Surely they can afford to work without pay for a week or two. What about the millions of dollars Purdue is supposed to be getting from the Federal Gov't through the education grants? Is there no means of getting grants from other outside sources? As students, we absorb tuition increases and new fees nearly every year, but this much all at once is not going to be easily swallowed.
ReplyDeleteThe person above me pretty much said it all. It'd be my guess that more people would be likely to drop out than fit the bill. We'll see drastic increase in unemployment as well as an increase in welfare!
ReplyDeleteI'm already not going to be seeing any sort of Social Security when I reach that age. I surely don't want to be looking student loans from UG that have spiked in interest too.
I hate America.
Have we considered getting off the farm schedule that our colleges keep that forces students to get a Bachelor in 4 years? How about offering 3 full semesters per year and getting students out of school in 3 years not 4? We're spending all this money on school, then we are hit with the interest rate and then we find ourselves employed in jobs that cannot pay the student loans that we had taken out. It's an awful process!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the above comments. Having 3 semesters a year is great idea and can reflect favorable in the university's "bragging rights." (As in, nobody else can gradute students faster or as many.)
ReplyDeleteThe legislators are not thinking of the long-term consequences here. Wouldn't this increase the debt if students are taking out higher loans and those who pay out of pockets would have to take out loans? It would also seriously decrease the student population drastically. I feel after that, the colleges and universities would struggle internally because they would not have as many students as they once had to make the ends meet and thus charge higher in student fees(which do add up fast).
If budget cuts haven't worked before in the past then another solution needs to be brought to the table.Did they ever consider there might need to be pay cuts to their jobs? Maybe jepordizing what they have in their deep pockets might push better performance and solutions out of them.
If the tuition was $1500 each semester, and they want to increase by 77%, then the new tuition amount would be $2655 (without student fees). Did I do the math wrong?
The resolution is a better idea than the 77% increase. Maybe they should sit and think about 77% idea for a good 10 years. That way we'll all pretty much be out of undergrad and grad school; and perhaps somebody will come along by then and do the job more creatively.
I don't want to think about any kind of increase, even one that is 15%. The resolution might speak a louder volume if people and students signed it. It would send the message loud and clear that this is not what the people want.
I, too, agree that if budget cuts haven't helped much in the past, then why keep doing it? I'm not one of those kids that has mom/dad/grandparents paying anything for my college. I am paying for all of my college on my own, with the help of the HOPE. But for the past 3 semesters, I've had to take out loans due to the loss of HOPE--totaling $6,000. There is NO way I can keep attending college if there is an increase in tuition anymore than there already has been. The temporary institutional fee and the mandatory meal plan, myself being a commuter student who isn't really there enough to use it, have been enough of an increase. I understand that our tuition at KSU would only be about 50% increase, but that's still way too much. The proposed 15% increase is enough on its own.
ReplyDeleteI am begging someone to please listen. Those Senators who say that the tuition they are paying for their children is "embarrassingly cheap"...they have no idea, because they are senators...maybe they need to be the ones to go on a few furlough days themselves.
Ridiculous politics, but I will be involved as to try to stop tuition from being raised at KSU more than 15%.
There is a Town Hall Meeting on March 2 at 10AM in the University Rooms in the Student Center on the Kennesaw State University campus. This tuition increase would effect all universities in the University System of Georgia, so it would be great if we saw folks from other schools there too. We must get faculty, staff, and students organizing around this ridiculous notion that cutbacks should be passed on to the students.
ReplyDeleteSo I got a reply. It feels like a cut and paste but I will share it with you guys.
ReplyDelete"Thanks for your contacting me.
I share your concern for the investment into education.
The state budget for FY 2011, which includes state funding for the Board of Regents, is currently being considered by the House of Representatives.
I would like to share the process for how this bill moves to the Senate. I apologize if you are already aware of this information.
The determination for determining total state funding begins with the Governor. It is the Governor alone who decides the maximum amount the legislature may appropriate. The legislature cannot spend a single dollar in excess of the Governor's revenue estimate. Additionally, the Constitution requires a balanced budget. Unlike what happens in Washington D.C. the state of Georgia is prohibited from spending money we do not have.
Once the Governor establishes the revenue limit, a budget is offered in the State House of Representatives to reflect the Governor's spending policy. The State House makes changes to where the money is spent, but cannot increase the amount spent.
Once a budget is passed from the House of Representatives, the Senate takes it into consideration for further changes. But again, no possible increase in total funding amount may be considered.
Currently, the 2011 budget is being considered by the House of Representatives.
The current budget situation reflects the historic 25% revenue decrease we have experienced during the last two years. Part of this revenue reduction has been offset by a reserve fund of $1.8 Billion the General Assembly wisely created during the years of 2004-2008.
Unfortunately, the reserve fund is now gone and the General Assembly has had to make significant cuts in state spending.
There are 31 departments for state funding and every one of them has received a reduction in revenue since the beginning of FY 2009. The changes in revenue reduction per department have ranged from 30% for the Department of Natural Resources to just 2% for Employee's Retirement Department. The median department reduction is about 18%.
The Board of Regents, which includes the Colleges and Universities, has had funding changes over the last 6 years. Here are the percentage changes in funding:
· FY 2006 $1.82 Billion with a 4.94% increase from FY 2005
· FY 2007 $1.93 Billion with a 3.28% increase from FY 2006
· FY 2008 $2.14 Billion with a 6.38% increase from FY 2007
· FY 2009 $2.04 Billion with a 3.76% decrease from FY 2008
· FY 2010 $1.99 Billion with a 2.64% decrease from FY 2009
· FY 2011(proposed) $1.76 Billion with a 11.3% decrease from FY 2010
Based upon the percentage reductions among the 31 departments of state government, the Board of Regents reduction is the 8th smallest between FY 2009-11.
The proposed budget for the Board of Regents is very similar to the funding amount for FY 2006.
We will continue to monitor the progress of the budget as it moves through the House of Representatives and do all we can to protect education funding. We recognize that all departments will see reductions; however it is also important to realize some areas of government are more important than others.
I hope this information will serve you well and has quelled some of your concerns. Thanks again for contacting me and please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of any future service to you.
Best regards,
Chip Rogers"
Thank you for posting this information! If you would like to participate in making your voice heard, please join Georgia students at the USG Students for Quality Education Rally at the Capitol on March 15th from 8:30AM to 12NOON.
ReplyDeleteSee the facebook event page for more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=333077581740&ref=mf
Thank you again,
Joseph Barbier
KSU SGA, Secretary of Press and Public Relations 2009-2010