PA. College Funding to be Slashed by $257 Million to Pay for $248 Million Cut in Business Taxes

[JPZenger]

8. Lowest Funding Level... Ever for State-Owned Universities. Plus "We're No. 1" for College Cuts!

http://www.pa2012.com/2011/03/corbett%E2%80%99s-budget-axe-hits-passhe-hard-yet-again/

Good piece on Corbett's cuts to college funding. The link notes that $200 million has already been cut from the budgets of state-owned universities to minimize tuition increases in the face of declining state support. that has led to the elimination of hundreds of employees in the State-owned universities and hundreds of employees at Penn State, as wells as hundreds of courses and many majors.

to act:

http://www.pastudentsvoice.org/


Excerpts:

"... Corbett’s proposed cuts appear to be the largest higher education cuts in the nation this year. Ummm…... We’re number one, I guess.

"According to the Pa SSHE, the proposed funding level for this year is $2.5 million less than the appropriations in 1983-1984, the first year of the system’s existence"

(Actually, once you factor in inflation, the proposed state funding is a fraction of what was provided 30 years ago).

"...Is Corbett really planning to privatize the state-owned schools?

If he does, how will students from poor and middle class families afford a decent education?

How many students will drop out of school or decide to enroll elsewhere if tuition jumps dramatically? Will such a drop in enrollment force tuition even higher?"

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In an interview, Corbett said "When it comes to higher education ... the dollars should follow the student."

His intent is to phase out all state funding to state universities, and instead to simply rely upon need based grants that can be used at private or public colleges. However, he is also cutting those grants to needy students.