Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier, IA
01-24-07
Educators: Universities need more money
By CHARLOTTE EBY, Courier Des Moines Bureau
DES MOINES --- The presidents of Iowa's three public universities made an
impassioned plea to state lawmakers Tuesday to return funding levels to those
they enjoyed in 2001 before steep budget cuts took hold.
They are asking for a nearly $73 million funding boost next year to help offset the
cuts. University of Northern Iowa President Benjamin Allen told legislators fewer
state dollars have meant cuts in class offerings and faculty, as well as rising
tuition rates and debt loads for students. Upgrades to technology at the university
also have been delayed, he said.
"I think all three universities have been working hard to make those budget cuts
work, but it's come to a point where there's no more fat. It's been cut to the bone
and quality is in jeopardy," he said.
At Iowa State University, fewer dollars have led to a loss of 9 percent of the
university's faculty, partially because of low salaries, a situation that has them
"teetering on the edge," ISU President Gregory Geoffrey said.
He said the fact the university's salaries rank at the bottom among peer
institutions has made it hard to recruit and retain talented faculty members.
"We have to address the competitiveness of our salary structure, or it's going to
be even more challenging to keep and recruit good faculty," Geoffrey said.
The university leaders showed legislators figures outlining the shrinking state
share of funding while students and their parents made up the difference with
higher tuition rates.
The funding slide began after 2001, when state revenues shrank and belttightening was forced on nearly all levels of state government. Those funding
cuts have never been fully restored.
State funding for the regents' 2001 operating budget totaled $723 million
compared with $645 million this year.
Figures going back more than two decades paint the same picture. In 1981, state
money made up more than 77 percent of university funding while tuition
revenues made up nearly 21 percent. This year, the state picks up only 48
percent of the tab, while tuition revenues pay for 45.8 percent.
Gov. Chet Culver is scheduled to lay out his budget proposal to lawmakers next
week, and spokesman Brad Anderson would not hint Tuesday at what the
blueprint contains for universities.
Rep. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, who chairs the legislative committee
overseeing education funding, is troubled by the trend of students being forced to
pay more.
"When education becomes too expensive, we lose bright people in our
educational system," she said.
Rep. Mike May, R-Spirit Lake, who sits on the committee, said the state should
allocate more money for the universities, but he does not think the $73 million
they are asking for is realistic.
"I don't know how we can afford it. I don't know how we can do it with the
constraints of the budget right now," he added.
Sen. Mark Zieman, R-Postville, another committee member, said education in
Iowa is still a bargain that draws students from other states. He predicts more
money will be directed to the universities, but believes it is good students are
shouldering a larger share of the cost.
"Could we be doing better? Yes. But I'm still a firm believer in that the more you
pay for something, the more you'll respect it and the more you'll get out of it," he
added.