End of stimulus funds likely leads to cuts
By: Beth Spencer
Issue date: 11/11/09 Section: News
Wade Jackson, president-elect of The University of Memphis Faculty Senate, told senators yesterday that after stimulus money dries up late next year, one result may be a tuition spike by 7 percent.
Jackson told the Faculty Senate that Dale Sims, vice chancellor of business and finance at the Tennessee Board of Regents, said the state could cut another 6 percent from university's budgets, which could then lead to an increase in tuition.
"They're looking at the dollars they have and making a projection," he said. "The state is going to be forced to start cutting our budget."
Some students, like Tim Jordan, senior sports and leisure management major, said budget cuts could be handled in other ways besides raising tuition.
"Why put the burden on the students?" he said. "They're steadily raising tuition but continue to take away things."
Students already made sacrifices when The University removed roll-overs in printing allowances and offered fewer classes, Jordan said.
"How do you expect a student body to thrive and be successful when you continually take away the tools necessary to succeed?" he said. "At the end of the day, if the student didn't pay, you wouldn't have an institution."
Brittany Little, freshman business major, said she thinks fees should decrease when budget cuts are made because fewer people could afford to enroll.
"Some people might go to a community college to save money," she said.
Involving various student groups in making decisions about budget cuts could help some students accept inevitable fee increases, said Sylvester Payne, junior sports and leisure major.
"They should survey students and find a common ground," he said. "Maybe they could go to the Greeks, (the Student Government Association) and residence halls to get feedback."
Jackson said an increase depends on the state's slipping economy.
"We're down 8 percent, and it doesn't look like it's getting any better," he said. "It's all projected. They're just trying to give us a heads up so we can start looking at options."
Stimulus money has assisted many departments at The U of M, including the psychology department.
"Right now there is stimulus money, which is providing support to purchase books for the library," said Jeffrey Berman, faculty senate president and professor of psychology. "The question is what happens when the stimulus money runs out."
Jackson told the Faculty Senate that Dale Sims, vice chancellor of business and finance at the Tennessee Board of Regents, said the state could cut another 6 percent from university's budgets, which could then lead to an increase in tuition.
"They're looking at the dollars they have and making a projection," he said. "The state is going to be forced to start cutting our budget."
Some students, like Tim Jordan, senior sports and leisure management major, said budget cuts could be handled in other ways besides raising tuition.
"Why put the burden on the students?" he said. "They're steadily raising tuition but continue to take away things."
Students already made sacrifices when The University removed roll-overs in printing allowances and offered fewer classes, Jordan said.
"How do you expect a student body to thrive and be successful when you continually take away the tools necessary to succeed?" he said. "At the end of the day, if the student didn't pay, you wouldn't have an institution."
Brittany Little, freshman business major, said she thinks fees should decrease when budget cuts are made because fewer people could afford to enroll.
"Some people might go to a community college to save money," she said.
Involving various student groups in making decisions about budget cuts could help some students accept inevitable fee increases, said Sylvester Payne, junior sports and leisure major.
"They should survey students and find a common ground," he said. "Maybe they could go to the Greeks, (the Student Government Association) and residence halls to get feedback."
Jackson said an increase depends on the state's slipping economy.
"We're down 8 percent, and it doesn't look like it's getting any better," he said. "It's all projected. They're just trying to give us a heads up so we can start looking at options."
Stimulus money has assisted many departments at The U of M, including the psychology department.
"Right now there is stimulus money, which is providing support to purchase books for the library," said Jeffrey Berman, faculty senate president and professor of psychology. "The question is what happens when the stimulus money runs out."