Tuesday, January 23, 2018

MSSU president: Greitens' proposed cuts will lead to compromised educational path for Missouri students

(From Missouri Southern State University President Alan Marble)

Yesterday's announcement of the Governor's FY19 budget proposal confirmed our concerns that, despite the benefit of providing a more educated workforce in Missouri, higher education continues to be identified as the sector capable of absorbing deep budget cuts. Cuts, that in my opinion, will lead to a compromised educational path for students in our state.

The Governor's proposed budget would result in a core reduction of $2.4 million for Missouri Southern - taking us back to the levels of state funding we received before 2001. Additionally, we will face another $2.1 million withholding that can be earned back through the successful completion of six performance funding measures.

Unfortunately, this proposed budget announcement continues the trend of eroding state support for higher education across Missouri, which we have been experiencing since 2010. Over the course of nine years, we will have lost a total of $5.4 million in state funding. With the added burden of Senate Bill 389, which limits the amount of tuition colleges and universities can charge, it is a financial paradox with no easy solutions.

We continue to be hopeful and trust that the General Assembly will advocate for increased higher education funding. Missouri Southern is vital to our students, our region, and our economy. It's no secret we have historically been underfunded in comparison to our peers. And, the potential for more cuts only magnifies this problem.

When discussing our state's low national ranking for its investment in higher education, a former colleague once said “If we are not careful, we will be in a race to the bottom.”



To me, it appears we are winning a race where everyone loses.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good for Gov..Higher Ed.is overpriced. Cut the old fashion system..

Anonymous said...

Maybe this would be the time to put the MSSU football program out of its misery and save a million dollars every year?

Anonymous said...

Maybe start generating enough revenue to sustain your own facility instead of relying on the government for funding.

The old adage of "If you can't afford it, then you can't have it/do it."

More companies and people in general need to adopt this policy.

Anonymous said...

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"

Concerned citizen said...

Wasted tax money on liberal progressive professors who work less and are isolated from reality of graduating students with useless degrees and deep debt incurred to achieve a degree.Time to reinvent higher education.

Anonymous said...

742, What if we had a brilliant mind out of local high school that is from a poor family? Do we say "Sorry, you can't afford it?" Missouri is on a dangerous path of a 2 class society.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps “ professors” should take a pay cut.

Anonymous said...

8:06 - I hope that question is rarely asked. It should be either, "Is my child learning?" or "Are our children learning?". You should have learned that at least in high school, but would have definitely learned it in college.

Anonymous said...

8:15 - Do a google search on the quote "Is our children learning?" You will find that your republican genius George Bush uttered these words. You betcha! Let's cut education funding. Them thar 'publicans gonna "Make 'Murica Grate Agin!"