State University Budget Cut - Research Paper Example

Community College Budget Cut Introduction Community college and budget cut is one of the political issues that havegenerated heated debate among students, school administrators, and the public. The budget cuts have completely affected learning in most state-funded institutions of higher learning. Most of the institutions have failed to meet the demands of the students because they lack the necessary resources and funds. This has made the institutions reduce and eliminate some of the services they offer to the students. Student enrollment has been cut off in some of the institutions, and some are contemplating to close down some of their campuses in the next academic year. Other than reducing student enrollment, some institutions have been forced to limit the number of programs they are offering due to the budget cuts. Laying-off of workers has been reported in some institutions because the institution can no longer sustain them. This phenomenon is evident in states that fund their institutions of higher learning. The paper will explore community college and state university budget cut, and how this political issue will affect the government and the people of the United States, now and in the future. Description of the Articles In her article, “State Colleges Forced to Limit Programs,” Laurie Beth Harris asserts that the state colleges will be forced to limit their programs due to the budget cuts. The author begins by stating that the demand for jobs in the fields of health care and engineering has continued to expand. However, states such as Texas, Florida, and New York have abolished programs at the public universities in subjects like engineering and computer science. The elimination of these programs is attributed to the budget cuts. Apart from elimination of the entire programs, the schools have been incapable of expanding popular programs to meet the demand of the students. For instance, in Raleigh North Carolina, Wake Technical Community College has seen its enrolment expand by approximately 30% in the previous three years and at the same time getting budget cuts from the state of approximately 21% (Harris 1). The community college is popular for its nursing program, which is limited to 275 students; however, there are close to 1000 individuals waiting to be enrolled into the program. This has forced Wake Tech to develop a waiting list for the nursing program. While some students are waiting to be enrolled into the nursing program, others are positioned in a prenursing program. With the limited spots (275 individuals) for the nursing program, stakes are high for the 1000 people who want to get entrance into the full nursing program. It is important to note that the flagship state schools persevered the recession better with alumni endowments and donations. This means that the smaller schools are the hardest hit by the recession. Schools have begun looking for the federal government assistance through the Pell Grant and Recovery Act funds (Harris 1). As stated before, engineering and health care fields are growing in an otherwise struggling economy; thus, the demand for higher-level programs in these fields by the students will continue to grow. However, in the absence of funding, the capability of the schools to support the high demand from the students is not certain (Harris). The author puts most emphasis on the effects of the budget cuts on the state colleges. The effect will be the elimination of certain programs and the inability of the schools to support its own programs. In the article “Community colleges chief decries budget cuts’ toll on students” by Carla Rivera, the same scenario is explained like in the previous article. The author in this article suggests that some of the Californians are missing the opportunities to attend colleges because the state-funded schools have reduced course offerings and shut down admissions. The author begins by giving the real scenario in the state of California. More than 300,000 students have been shed by the California community colleges since the year 2009. This is attributed to the fact that students fail to get into classes, and if the situation (courses and funding) is not reversed (by reversing the courses and giving more funding), the toll is likely to increase (Rivera 1). The California State University decided to freeze majority of admissions for the 2013 spring, however, several hundred community college transfer students will be exempted from the admission freeze. They will be given admission to eight of the California State University’s 23 campuses. The decision will shut out approximately 16,000 students, “most of them would-be transfer students who are likely to remain at community colleges and clog access for recent high school graduates and unemployed workers who have been streaming into the two-year system for job retraining” (Rivera 1). According to the statistics available, in the fiscal year 2011-12, state universities have suffered approximately $750 million in funding cuts. On the other hand, community college suffered a $564 million hit. It is suggested that both systems could lose a number of millions if the tax measure fails in the November ballot (Rivera 1). The budget cuts have made the community colleges minimize course offerings by approximately 20 percent at a period when the demand has increased considerably than before. The 112 community colleges in California only serve close to 2.6 million students. The demand for community colleges has increased at a faster rate, but there is the lack of resources to offer everyone what he, or she needs (Rivera 1). In this article, emphasis is on the effect of the budget cuts on the state universities and community colleges. The state universities and community colleges have already reduced some of the courses they offer. Other than reducing the number of courses, they have also stopped admitting students into their various programs. The next article takes a different dimension from the previous two articles. In his article, “Despite Massive Budget Cuts, There’s a building Boom in U.S. Higher Education,” Jon Marcus states that the exceptional multibillion-dollar building boom is happening at the United States universities and colleges. It is happening despite the fact that there are budget shortfalls (cuts), overstretched resources, and decline in endowments. The author asserts that close to $11 billion in new facilities have begun in the American campuses in each of the previous two years. The figure is more than double of what was spent on buildings ten years ago. This is so even as the schools are finding it hard to contain the increasing costs. However, some feel it is very wrong for such developments at a time when most individuals in the community cannot get into or finish college education (Marcus 1). Much of the spending is happening on cash-impoverished public universities. For instance, the public University of California system has close to $8.9 billion in construction happening in its 5 medical centers and 10 campuses, and the California State University system has close to $161 million. California has considerably cut billions of dollars from its public universities. The universities have responded by minimizing enrollment, laying off employees, and increasing tuition. At the University of California, students fees increased by 18% this academic year. Critics agree that some of the constructions are justified while others disagree completely. Those who oppose it state that enrollments are increasing in the jam-packed community colleges and most of these new buildings are going up on these campuses because the donors and university presidents want to leave a lasting legacy in these institutions. On the other hand, the admission directors are struggling to admit applicants who are already taken away by the flashy new amenities (Marcus 1). The universities suggest that the ongoing constructions were already in place before the 2008 economic recession. They further suggest that the money for the construction comes from private donations, student’s fees, government grants, and borrowing. Thus, the money is strictly kept in separate capital and not operating accounts and cannot be utilized for expenses such as increasing enrollment or salaries. However, the cost of construction bonds is generated from the operating funds, that is, the taxpayers’ money (Marcus 1). In other words, the author attempts to suggest that state universities and the community college have a lot of money at their disposal (the construction money) despite the budget cuts, decline in endowments, and the overstretched resources. Thus, the money can be used to contain the increasing student enrollment and employees salaries. The article by Carla Rivera “Community colleges hit by $149-million shortfall” indicates the institution of learning will have little flexibility in responding to the recent budget cuts and decline in fee revenues and increased aid to the students will complicate the financial problems. In other words, the author attempts to suggest that the state universities and the community colleges have been hardly hit by the budget cuts. The author begins by stating that the California community colleges are struggling to absorb the sudden $148-million budget shortfall. This indicates that more layoffs, possible eradication of summer classes, borrowing, and class cuts, and this will have a considerable impact on thousands of students. Revenues from the student’s fees fell below the $107 million projections in the present fiscal year as more economically impoverished students seek and get fee waivers. Furthermore, there was a fall of approximately $41 million in the property tax revenues. The effect on the state universities and community colleges is adverse. For instance, the Pasadena City College, which has already started its spring sessions, decided to cut 56 classes, and it is considering closing the campus for the spring break and a section of the summer (Rivera 1). The same scenario is occurring in the Fresno State, which has stated that it will not accept students for the 2013 spring (Jacob 1). The article by Mariana Jacob “Fresno State making plans for more budget cuts” states that Fresno State is implementing plans to mitigate the problem of budget cuts. The article begins by giving the real picture of the impact of budget cuts on the state universities and community colleges. The author offers the example of the California State University system, which is already planning to freeze the enrollment of students into its 23 campuses. This is in a move to save money. Fresno State is also set to feel the same impact. According to the university officials of Fresno State, it will not be accepting the enrollment of students in the 2013 spring term. However, the California State University will permit the enrollment of several hundred transfer students from community colleges at other campuses (Jacob 1). Officials at the university state that they are minimizing the number of students being enrolled as a means to face the potential budget cuts. To support their argument, the university officials stated the $200 million dollar budget cut would have a significant on the Central Valley. They indicated that the enrollment of a few students into the community colleges will adversely affect the economy. Other plans in place include reducing admissions in 2013 fall in most campuses if the voters reject the governor’s (Governor Jerry Brown) measure to increase taxes in November. Political experts argue that if the taxes are raised, the state university systems will get their fair portion of the benefit. However, some want the residents to re-examine the measure, that is, to look at the advantages of the proposal by Governor Brown (Jacob 1). On the other hand, students are complaining that education is being taken away from them because of the move to cut budget. They argue that it will hurt them and the state. Other campuses that will not be accepting students in the next spring include Stanislaus and Bakersfield. The only campuses that will be accepting students include campuses in Southern Carolina and Bay Area. In this article, the author attempts to emphasize two things, the effect of budget cuts on the area and the proposed plans to address the issue of budget. From the author, it is evident that the effect of budget cuts on the state universities and community colleges in the area is adverse. It is also clear that the proposed plans may not go through in the November vote. Analysis of the Political Issues Discussed In the Articles and How the Issues Affect the People of the United States and Their Government Today and In The Future It is very evident from the four articles that the budget cuts have greatly affected the state universities and community colleges in several states. Budget cuts were proposed to run the state universities and community colleges effectively in the wake of the economic downturn. However, the budget cuts have not been received well since they have completely interfered with the smooth running of the state-funded institutions of higher learning. Some of the higher learning institutions have been forced to reduce the number of courses offered (particularly important courses such as health care and engineering), cut student admission, and lay off employees. Others have been rendered incapable of containing the increasing demand from the students. This has led to protests against the budget cuts, and state representatives have been forced to look for alternatives in containing the budget cuts. The budget cuts will adversely affect the government and the people of the United States both now and in the future. The effect of the budget cuts on the institutions of higher learning will have a direct impact on the economy of the states. This because some of the courses important for the economy have been eliminated or they are receiving little funding from the government. The rise in school fees will translate into high levels of unemployment because the poor students will not be able to afford fees required to be admitted in a college or a university. Some of the campuses will be closed because the institution is not capable of maintaining them. Thus, fewer students will access education in higher learning institutions. This will ultimately raise the minimal required grade for admission into the institutions. Representatives in the regions affected are attempting to create plans that will reduce the impact of the budget cuts on the state universities and community colleges. Among the proposed plans include increasing tax so as to support the state-sponsored institutions of higher learning. Increasing tax indicates that other sectors of the economy will be affected and it is likely that most people will not vote for the proposed plans. Political experts argue that increase in taxes will enable the institutions of higher learning get a fair portion of the benefit. The Effect of Articles on the Reader From the articles, the reader is able to decipher that higher education in state-funded universities and colleges is slowly dying out because of the budget cuts. It is evident that most state-funded learning has been hit double (that is, by the economic downturn and the recent, proposed budget cuts). Thus, most of these institutions will not be able to meet the student demands. The ultimate effect will be a reduction in the number of students admitted and the number of courses offered. From the articles, accessing education in state-funded universities and colleges will be difficult and thus, if one has to look for higher education, the only option remaining is private higher learning institutions. However, not everyone is capable of enrolling to these institutions because of costly school fees. Works Cited Harris, Laurie Beth. “State Colleges Forced To Limit Programs.” Nextgen Journal. Nextgen Journal, 7 March 2012. Web. 4 May 2012. Jacob, Mariana. “Fresno State Making Plans for More Budget Cuts.” ABC.com. ABC.com, 20 March 2012. Web. 4 May 2012. Marcus, Jon. “Despite Massive Budget Cuts, There’s A Building Boom in U.S. Higher Education.” Community College Week. Community College Week, 30 April 2012. Web. 4 May 2012. Rivera, Carla. “Community Colleges Chief Decries Budget Cuts’ Toll On Students.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 25 March 2012. Web. 4 May 2012. Rivera, Carla. “Community Colleges Hit By $149-Million Shortfall.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 4 May 2012. Read More