May 6, 2005
New NCSL Project Seeks to Alleviate Higher Education Funding Problems
DENVER - Higher education in America is in a state of fiscal crisis, and a new project of the National Conference of State Legislatures places legislators at the center of a national dialogue about solutions.
The average tuition at four-year public colleges in the 2003-2004 school year was 14.1 percent higher than it was in 2001-2002. Room and board increased by 6.6 percent during the same time period. Students are graduating with record amounts of debt at a time when fewer high-paying jobs are available to those who don’t have a bachelor’s degree.
These spikes in cost are due, in part, to more than three years of tight state budgets. State legislators have mostly relied on cuts, rather than tax increases, to close budget gaps. Because higher education has the built-in revenue source of tuition, during difficult budget times state legislators have often opted to curb higher education funding in larger proportions than other budget items.
"State legislators play central roles in state higher education policy," said NCSL Education Program Director Julie Bell. "Difficult state economic conditions have put pressure on state legislators to cut state support to higher education, and to reexamine the state role in higher education. In this project, legislators will take the lead in studying the problem, examining alternative funding models, and engaging legislators around the country in a discussion about strategies to improve the current conditions."
The projects goals are:
- To enhance the dialogue among state legislators on the "big picture" issues regarding appropriations, tuition, and financial aid and the impact of legislative decisions on college affordability and access.
- To identify, debate and disseminate new models of state budgets and state higher education funding that link appropriations, tuition and financial aid in the four-year and two-year sectors and can favorably impact college access and affordability, especially for low income students.
- To provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for new and veteran legislators and legislative leaders on higher education issues and state strategies.
- To provide legislators the necessary training, background and skills to build stronger relationships with statewide higher education policymakers and to become engaged participants and leaders in the long-term planning process.
NCSL’s education program has recruited a 10-member Blue Ribbon Legislative Commission comprised of legislative leaders and chairs of appropriations and education committees to guide the work of the project. Members are:
- New Mexico Senator Ben Altimarano
- New Jersey Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman
- Virginia Senate President Pro Tem John H. Chichester
- Utah Senator Lyle Hillyard
- Wisconsin Representative Rob Kreibich
- California Assemblywoman Carol Liu
- Connecticut Representative Denise Merrill
- Texas Representative Geanie W. Morrison
- West Virginia Senator Robert Plymale
- Illinois Senate Minority Leader Steve Rauschenberger
This project is funded by a grant from Lumina Foundation for Education. The Foundation launched a national initiative last year to generate practical solutions to address the rising cost of college, inviting decision-makers in higher education, state government, federal government, secondary schools and the private sector to participate.
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access and success in education beyond high school. Through grants for research, innovation, communication, and evaluation, as well as policy education and leadership development, Lumina Foundation addresses issues that affect access and educational attainment among all students, particularly underserved student groups, including adult learners. For more details on the Foundation, visit its Web site at http://www.luminafoundation.org/.
### |
