Supporting U.VA in times of economic woe

Giveherwingsmom · February 10, 2010, 9:18am

Jmho, but when society lessens their emphasis on education, regardless of the economy, it shoots itself in the foot. This is a time to band together. Virginia should re-consider it’s ill-thought lessening of state school funding. In-state residents recognize and support our state educational pearls, particularly the University of Virginia. Students and parents should both lobby their legislators for increased institutional support as well as consider that in-state tuition has been low for the value provided. I for one am willing to pay more for in-state tuition to see our states’ students have viable options and support our state higher educational system. Today I write my legislators and our governor.

U.Va. president: Money crunch to worsen

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - University of Virginia President John Casteen says the real cost of the recession won’t be felt until 2012.

That’s the year federal stimulus funds, which have softened the impact of state budget cuts, will dry up.

Even with the stimulus money, the university has felt the financial crunch. Casteen says that for the first time, U.Va.'s in-state students are paying more of the cost of their education than the state is.

The retiring U.Va. president made the remarks Tuesday in his 20th and final State of the University address. His successor, Teresa Sullivan, takes over Aug. 1.

Nigiri · February 10, 2010, 11:05am

The state of VA provides $10.5K per in state student. U of Iowa, $18K. UNC $27K. The politicians in Richmond seem to have no idea what kind of deal the citizens of UVA are getting.

gc414 · February 10, 2010, 1:29pm

Those kind of posts, where a person says “the student is still getting a great deal even if the state is supporting to school less” really bother me. Because yes, there’s the superficial argument about how much the student is actually paying, but then there is the deeper argument in which this financial action speaks to society’s or a government’s priorities.

When I see posts such as this about state schools (they’ve been popping up a lot on forums and in newspapers), it’s not the $500 or $1000 increase that bothers me, it’s the way in which states are distributing their budgets. Education is getting the short end of the stick. That’s the frustrating problem.

While it’s understandable that in times of recession and economic difficulty cuts will be made. I get this. It’s just a shame that education has to take a hit for this. I’m one of those people who always thinks that education is the most important thing, given that, as cliche as it sounds, the children our our future. Instead, states seem to allocate exorbitant amounts of money into other sectors and services. (This ultimately turns into a rant on how the government spends our taxes, haha).

But, in sum, I don’t think the public education sector should be facing cuts that would 1. make the cost of education more difficult for an deserving student or that would 2. indicate that education is not a top priority in our society.

Nigiri · February 10, 2010, 1:46pm

gc414, my post is in complete agreement. My point is that the state of VA is not pulling its weight…the VA legislature appears completely unaware what kind of bargain it is getting. This is not saying all is well, it is placing the responsibility on the state.

gc414 · February 10, 2010, 1:51pm

Ohh!! I misread. As you could probably tell, I just get frustrated with people who make that argument (and a lot of people often do… gr!)

I still liked my post though so I’ll leave it, haha.

GoTechGo · February 11, 2010, 11:52pm

Didn’t Virginia, William&Mary and Virginia Tech sign onto the Virginia Higher Education Restructuring Act? Basically, accept less funding from the state, and get more autonomy over your own affairs; at least I thought that was the stipulation. UVA only takes less than 10% of its funding from taxpayers if I’m not mistaken, and VT is down to around 20% now. I thought this was what was supposed to happen…

UVADeanJ · February 12, 2010, 8:55am

The restructuring agreement was put together in part because of that sort of funding. It didn’t seek tp perpetuate poor funding, but the writing has long been on the wall that the state is not going to fund these schools the way public, peer institutions in other states are funded.

This is a very short summary of the restructuring agreement: [History</a>, Restructuring, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/restructuring/background.html]History”>http://www.virginia.edu/restructuring/background.html)

Here are the restructuring pages at [url=<a href=“http://web.wm.edu/restructuring/?svr=www]W&M[/url”>http://web.wm.edu/restructuring/?svr=www]W&M[/url</a>] and [url=<a href=“http://www.vt.edu/restructuring/]Tech[/url”>http://www.vt.edu/restructuring/]Tech[/url</a>].

MechWahoo · February 12, 2010, 4:02pm

Articles of interest:

[State</a> Universities Brace for Another Brutal Year - BusinessWeek](<a href=“Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Businessweek - Bloomberg)

and a list of funding for college by state:

[News:</a> Fading Stimulus Saved Colleges - Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/02/11/sheeo]News:”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/02/11/sheeo)

Giveherwingsmom · February 13, 2010, 10:56am

Thank you for providing the links above. They are interesting explanations and educational.

There remains no question that our state higher educational institutions are going to warrant state, public and private input and cooperation during these tough economic times. Teresa Sullivan, the newly appointed President of UVA served as University of Michigan’s Chief of Budget during recent lean years. It seems wise UVA has chosen such an experienced individual as President.

Here is a link to Project Vote Smart, which attempts to get candidates goals known a head of voting. This link is for our current Governor Bob McDonnell (see especially “k” and “l”):

[Project</a> Vote Smart - Governor Robert Francis ‘Bob’ McDonnell - Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)](<a href=“http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=5170]Project”>Vote Smart | Facts For All)

EDUCATION
Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.
X a) Increase state funds for professional development of public school teachers and administrators.
X b) Encourage private or corporate investment in public school programs.
X c) Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any participating school (public, private, religious).
X d) Favor charter schools where independent groups receive state authorization and funding to establish new schools.
X e) Support sex education programs which stress abstinence.
f) Support sex education programs which stress safe sexual practices.
X g) Increase state funds for school construction and facility maintenance.
X h) Increase state funds for hiring of additional teachers.
i) Endorse teacher-led voluntary prayer in public schools.
X j) Support the Board of Education’s new higher standards for teacher certification.
X k) Adopt performance-based funding for Virginia’s 38 state universities and community colleges.
X l) Increase state funding to public universities and community colleges so they can lower tuition rates.

Giveherwingsmom · February 14, 2010, 3:41pm

The link and comments below are about Virginia’s 2010 four billion dollar budget deficit which our legislators are huddling about. Governor McDonnell continues, according to the AP writer, to push for increases for higher education funds or at least restore the deep cut proposals ex-Gov Kaine proposed in his outgoing budget. This would be in line with what I posted above (“l” and “k”), marked by an X as affirmative. Still challenges ahead as K-12 funding support is crucial to keep the cogs of the educational wheel moving.

Analysis: McDonnell keeps fingerprints off budget cuts

Feb 14, 2010 AP Political Writer Bob Lewis

"It’s not as if McDonnell doesn’t know what he wants to do. During his interview with the AP he broadly outlined his proposals.

He has asked legislators to trim about $700 million the next two years from state support for public schools from kindergarten through high school, and generate the same amount in savings from a less generous public employee retirement system.

He aims to cut about $300 million in funding for health and human resources. The rest of the cuts will come from cutting the size of state agencies, including jobs.

McDonnell also wants to bolster funding for higher education and law enforcement from the deep cuts Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine prescribed in the budget he submitted in December."

[Analysis:</a> McDonnell keeps fingerprints off budget cuts - wtop.com](<a href=“http://www.wtop.com/?nid=600&sid=1888681]Analysis:”>WTOP | Washington’s Top News | DC, MD & VA News, Traffic & Weather)

Giveherwingsmom · March 15, 2010, 11:50am

I’ve been tracking the Virginia Budget process specifically for higher education funding over the last few weeks. Here is the best reference I can find on it’s Sunday passage:

“In higher education, which the Senate, in particular, was determined to shield from further cuts, the undergraduate financial-aid program for public colleges and universities was largely protected, but grants to Virginians attending the state’s private institutions would be cut $10 million.” (Richmond Times Dispatch, Monday March15).

So now onto Governor McDonnell it goes: will the Governor bolster funding for higher education institutions as he previously favored? Time will tell.

KandKsmom · March 15, 2010, 7:51pm

Unfortunately, I am not holding my breath for Ken Doll to bolster anything in education…He did, however, put an emphasis (and state $) into re-opening the rest stop potties, though…

guillaume · March 15, 2010, 8:30pm

Lol! ten char

Giveherwingsmom · March 16, 2010, 11:20am

UVa, others escape tough paring measures

By Brian McNeill
Published and Updated: March 15, 2010

"The General Assembly has spared the states higher education system including the University of Virginia deeper budget cuts than previously expected.

The budget passed by the General Assembly on Sunday is very similar to that proposed by former Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and omits, for the most part, further higher educations cuts officials feared might be made.

UVa and other schools also managed to convince the legislature to remove a proposal by Kaine to shave 5 percent off the accounts of each universitys auxiliary enterprises, which include parking services, athletics, housing, dining and other departments that receive no funding from the state.

The 5 percent reduction to auxiliary balances originally proposed in the Governors budget is NOT included in the conference committee budget, Colette Sheehy, UVas vice president for management and budget, wrote in an e-mail. However, at this point we think they still intend to withhold interest earnings on cash balances for auxiliary enterprise operations.

More for out-of-state students

The General Assemblys budget imposes a higher fee on out-of-state college students to support debt service on academic buildings. The fee would increase from $10 to $15 per credit hour.

UVa did not, as it had hoped, receive authorization for new capital projects. As a result, the renovations of New Cabell Hall and Ruffner Hall will remain on hold.

Two entities at the UVa the Center for Politics and the Foundation for the Humanities avoided deep cuts included in the House version of the budget, which zeroed out all of the agencies state funding.

Despite the restored funding, both agencies still face budget reductions originally proposed by Kaine.

The Center for Politics, which relies on the state money to finance its civics education and youth leadership programs, stands to lose some $60,000 each year under the General Assembly-approved budget.

When our budget is cut we ultimately have to reduce the services we provide to schools and teachers, Ken Stroupe, the centers chief of staff, said. Should this version of the budget prevail, we will not have to reduce those services as much.

The Foundation for the Humanities, which is behind the Virginia Festival of the Book and other civic, cultural, educational and artistic endeavors, would lose nearly $290,800 each year of the biennium.

The budget still requires the signature of Gov. Bob McDon-nell, who can exercise his line item veto authority with any budget item. Lawmakers return to Richmond in April to vote on any of McDonnells vetoes.

[UVa</a>, others escape tough paring measures | Charlottesville Daily Progress](<a href=“http://■■■■■■■/0hAGf]UVa”>http://■■■■■■■/0hAGf)

Giveherwingsmom · March 17, 2010, 11:32pm

[McDonnell</a> claims an 80% success rate in assembly | Richmond Times-Dispatch](<a href=“http://■■■■■■■/XWUAB]McDonnell”>http://■■■■■■■/XWUAB)

TYLER WHITLEY AND OLYMPIA MEOLA TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS
Published: March 16, 2010

Gov. Bob McDonnell is claiming an 80 percent success rate in his first legislative session. With the budget crisis resolved, he now will turn to other substantial challenges facing his administration.

The new Republican chief executive said the General Assembly session fulfilled his top priorities – balancing the budget without a tax increase; job-creation initiatives; and reforms in education…

…He also has indicated that he could call a special session on restructuring state government.

Pushing ahead on another of his campaign pledges, McDonnell plans to issue an executive order in the next two weeks to create a Governor’s Commission on Higher Education Innovation. The panel will develop recommendations and timetables to implement his higher-education agenda – including the goal for state colleges and universities to grant 100,000 additional associate’s and bachelor’s degrees during the next 15 years."

Thus beginning to implement the vision of then-Candidate McDonnell:

[McDonnell</a> for Governor | Press Releases | McDonnell Unveils Plan to Boost Virginia Economy Through Higher Education and Workforce Training](<a href=“http://■■■■■■■/jQpL4]McDonnell”>http://■■■■■■■/jQpL4)

Press Releases
McDonnell Unveils Plan to Boost Virginia Economy Through Higher Education and Workforce Training

For Immediate Release:
May 12, 2009
Contact: Tucker Martin
<a href="mailto:Tucker.Martin@bobmcdonnell.com">Tucker.Martin@bobmcdonnell.com</a>

McDonnell Unveils Plan to Boost Virginia Economy Through Higher Education and Workforce Training: “Affordable Access: Educating Virginians for Top Jobs and Incomes in the Knowledge-Based Economy”

-Calls for 100,000 Additional Degrees over Next 15 Years-

McDonnell: “My focus is our higher education system, but the subject is really much broader. It’s about the future of Virginia as a thriving community, a growing economy, and a place where people from diverse regions and backgrounds, with varied interests and abilities, can live fulfilling, prosperous lives.”

Fairfax- Bob McDonnell, Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Attorney General of Virginia,** today announced his bold vision for Virginia’s colleges and universities in a speech to students, professors, administrators and local leaders at George Mason University. In his remarks McDonnell rolled out the five specific elements that combine to form his “Affordable Access- Top Jobs and Incomes” vision for Virginia’s colleges, community colleges and universities.

· Commit the Commonwealth to awarding 100,000 additional four-year and community college degrees over the next 15 years.

· Make higher education more affordable and accessible for all Virginians.

· Increase the number of students graduating with degrees in high demand, high income fields such as science, technology, engineering and math.

· Expand workforce training at Virginia’s Community Colleges based on current and anticipated employer needs

· Promote public-private partnerships for economic development, workforce training, and advanced research in every region of Virginia**

<pre><code> In his remarks McDonnell noted, “The hard reality is this: The 21st-century economy requires increasingly high skill and knowledge levels. Too few Virginians are going to college and getting that preparation. And our present state policies are doing far too little about it. In fact, our present state policies are making the challenge worse. Higher education ought to be among our top priorities for investment. It is one of the areas of state government spending that produces the highest return on investment in terms of jobs and economic growth, and ultimately tax revenues.”

McDonnell added, &#8220;During a decade when the general fund budget in Virginia has risen about 50 percent and total state spending has increased roughly 70 percent in nominal dollars-yes, it has increased by 70 percent-we have had roughly a 40 percent cut in constant-dollar funding for higher education on a per-student basis.  ........ The effect of this short-sighted policy of disinvestment has been to jeopardize the essential quality and capacity of Virginia&#8217;s higher education system at the very time when we need it most-when we should be laying the foundation for sustained economic success in the new, knowledge-based economy of the future.

McDonnell continued, &#8220;At the very time when the tough economic situation made getting a college or community college degree or professional certificate even more crucial for getting a good job, misplaced priorities in state government made it tougher for ordinary Virginians to afford it.&#8221;

The full speech, outlining McDonnell&#8217;s positive vision of greater investments and innovation in higher education leading to more jobs and opportunities for all Virginians, can be found below the following selected speech highlights.

</code></pre>

McDonnell on 100,000 Additional Degrees

“Nothing happens without vision and commitment. This is a big goal, and it will take a sustained effort. As Governor, I will make sure this commitment is written into the policies of the Commonwealth, just as the Standards of Quality codifies our ongoing commitment to elementary and secondary education. What we are talking about here is a major effort to expand access to higher education-and the economic potential it unlocks-for thousands more Virginians. Achieving the goal of 100,000 cumulative additional degrees over the next 15 years will move Virginia to the national forefront of educational attainment, putting us on track to have 55 percent of Virginians between ages 25 and 64 with college degrees. That’s an important milestone. According to the respected National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, a degree increase of that magnitude would place Virginia in the top rank of states and countries in terms of educational level and personal income. That’s essential for our economic future.

“The key is to get serious about aligning our spending priorities with the realities of the new economy. Producing 100,000 additional degrees will raise incomes, attract new businesses, create good jobs, and generate a large economic return on investment for our state, with a corresponding rise in tax revenues.”

“We also know that college graduates pay substantially more in state and local taxes than high school graduates-on average nationally, about $2,800 more each year, according to Philip A. Trostel, a professor of Economics & Public Policy at the University of Maine. In today’s dollars, 100,000 more degrees would translate into $280 million in higher state and local tax revenues each year.

Likewise, there is a stark differential in what it costs taxpayers for welfare, Medicaid, corrections, and unemployment and workmen’s compensation services based on education level. College graduates consume on average about $974 less each year for those services than do high school graduates, according to Trostel. For 100,000 degrees, that means annual savings of $97 million in today’s dollars.

Taken together, these tax collections and costs savings mean that, by 2025, our investment in 100,000 additional degrees will directly benefit Virginia taxpayers each year to the tune of nearly $400 million dollars, based just on the improved economic situation of those additional graduates.”

McDonnell on Restructuring for Affordability and Employability

“Not everyone in our society wants or needs to go to college, but we must give everyone a realistic opportunity. We must commit our Commonwealth to offering every capable and committed student in Virginia an affordable pathway to a good job through a college education. And that means restructuring the system to focus on both affordability and employability.”

McDonnell on Increasing Degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

“We know the winners in the economic competition of the future will be those who possess knowledge and skills in the STEM disciplines. Those are the people who will earn the high incomes. Those are the states and communities that will attract the major business investments and research grants. It is also a vital matter of national security to support the military, to sustain our leadership in the technological revolution, and to promote Virginia’s role as an energy leader, particularly with nuclear power. And we know those high-income, high-demand professions are where the opportunity lies for our children and grandchildren-it’s where the next generation of Virginians from all walks of life, especially underprivileged communities, will find upward mobility and the chance for a share of the American Dream.”

“And if all that were not motivation enough, we know that for our nation’s security and survival, it is a contest we simply cannot afford to lose. Where, then, is our strategic plan here in Virginia? Where is the leadership to forge a bipartisan consensus and sustained commitment? Where is the systematic collaboration between business and government and higher education necessary to make this happen for our future? Where’s the sense of urgency, or sense of mission? We don’t have it. And, as Governor, I will be committed to changing that.”

McDonnell on Accessing Ready Employment Opportunities through Better Targeted Workforce Training and Re-Training at our Community Colleges

“Some of the work at our community colleges results in associates degrees or transfer to four-year institutions. Some leads to professional certification. And in other cases the training is tailored to the specific needs of local businesses, some of whom partner with the community colleges for specialized programs. But the common denominator is that all of these programs provide access to better job opportunities for a wide range of Virginians-young people and adults, from varied backgrounds, all across our state. Expanding these opportunities will be a key element of our blueprint for sustained success in the knowledge-based economy. Instead of 23 different workforce training programs, spread across 9 different agencies, I will make our community colleges the focus of a comprehensive workforce training system-one that is aligned with emerging economic trends and geared to identified employment opportunities in our fast-changing private sector.”

McDonnell on Establishing more Public-Private Partnerships for Economic Development, Workforce Training, and Advanced Research

“To realize our full potential for economic recovery and sustained expansion in Virginia, we must do a much better job of strategic planning on a regional basis. That will allow us to better tailor workforce training programs to the needs of existing enterprises and to the needs of the new businesses we are recruiting to each region. It will allow us to craft financial, workforce and other job-creation incentives that match the profile of businesses and business clusters in each region. And it will allow us to better align university-based research and development activities with the regional potential for private sector investment and commercialization. “

“It is time for us to take a quantum leap forward in Virginia in the quality of our strategic planning and implementation at the regional level. And to provide a catalyst for it, I will work with the General Assembly to review existing funding streams and weave financial incentives for regional collaboration and public-private partnerships into the state budget. At the same time we will establish and implement metrics to measure performance of these programs. Only things that actually work will be funded.”

Giveherwingsmom · March 18, 2010, 12:28pm

Va. colleges face upcoming budget reductions

March 18, 2010 - 11:54am
By ZINIE CHEN SAMPSON
Associated Press Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - "State funding for Virginia’s higher-education system is continuing to shrink, and colleges and universities say they’ll have to continue raising tuition…

The budget approved last week by the General Assembly included across-the-board reductions of $243.5 million in the 2011-12 fiscal years…

About $198 million in federal stimulus funds are available for schools during the 2011 fiscal year. But in fiscal 2012, it will be gone, meaning the state’s four-year colleges will see state support drop by 15 percent, and the community-college system will see a 13 percent reduction."

Supporting U.VA in times of economic woe

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