Friday, September 11, 2009
ASU President Michael Crow said the University has endured the worst of a recession and state funding cuts, but needs to find new sources of revenue before stimulus funding runs out in two years.
ASU President Michael Crow said the University has endured the worst of a recession and state funding cuts, but needs to find new sources of revenue before stimulus funding runs out in two years.
Smaller cuts in state funding, economic stimulus money and the tuition surcharge have allowed the University to avoid furloughs and layoffs this academic year, Crow said in an interview with The State Press editorial board.
“We don’t anticipate any furloughs [and] we don’t anticipate any additional layoffs,” he said. “We’ve weathered the storm.”
Crow added, however, that the surcharge is “highly likely” to be renewed next year because of the cuts the University has received in state funding.
“The elimination of the tuition surcharge without a replacement revenue source would be the same as a budget reduction,” Crow said.
The University will also be working to bring in revenue to replace the stimulus funding, set to expire in two years, Crow said.
To do this, the University in 2011 would need the equivalent of $1,400 per student in additional revenue, he said. That money could come from the state, increases in tuition or increases in student retention, Crow said, but he does not want to cover the shortfall with further spending cuts.
“We can’t cut our way to success,” Crow said. “We’ve already cut $50 million from the base budget of the institution.”
Arizona Students’ Association spokeswoman Christina Rocks said she was disappointed by Crow’s assertion that the tuition surcharge would more than likely be renewed.
“It was meant to be a one-time charge to students,” Rocks said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to have a surcharge while we are receiving stimulus money.”
Undergraduate Student Government President Brendan O’Kelly, who is also a member of the ASA governing board, said he wants the administration to include students more in the decision-making process. This would mean more open forums between the administration and students discussing the possibility of increased tuition, fees or surcharges.
“I feel like it’s just President Crow and a few student leaders right now,” O’Kelly said. “We want to make sure students are actively involved in any conversations to increase tuition, whether it’s through a general increase or a surcharge.”
O’Kelly added that USG would work closely with the administration to advocate for other sources of revenue going into the University, reducing the need for increases in tuition and fees.
“Right now, a portion of the tobacco tax goes to K-12 education,” he said. “It’d be great to see a portion of another tax go directly to higher education,” he said.
Rocks said the rising cost of attending ASU violates the spirit of state law, which mandates that higher education be “as nearly free as possible” for in-state students.
“The cost of attendance is just too high,” Rocks said. “It’s just not in line with our state constitution.”
Reach the reporter at derek.quizon@asu.edu.
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