Reason #101 Why I Appreciate Our Chancellor

Okay, so the number is arbitrary, but the sentiment is true.

Last night, I spoke to Chancellor Shockley-Zalabak about the proposed "Long Bill" and the reduction in proposed cuts to higher education. I asked her what the passage of this "Long Bill" (as is) would mean for next year's proposed tuition increases. She told me that if the bill is approved as is that she would use that money that wasn't expected to be in the budget towards decreasing next year's tuition increase. She was very adamant that she wants to keep tuition increases as low as possible. Right now, we are sitting at a proposed tuition increase of 7%; however, if this "Long Bill" is approved (as is), she believes she might be able to lower it by a whole percentage point.

This good news for all of us in the CU system and for higher education institutions across the state.

The "Long Bill" is being heard in the House tomorrow. Check back soon for more updates.

Post Spring Break: CO Budget Update

The CU flag flies outside the Colorado State Capitol building during the 2012 University of Colorado Advocacy Day in the Colorado State Capitol building. (Photo by Casey A. Cass/University of Colorado) 

Welcome back! I hope you had a great Spring Break. As you may have noticed, I took the week off from blogging to catch up on all those chores and fun times I've been putting off since January. Now, it's time to refocus and end the semester strong. 

Over Spring Break, some great news came out about the Colorado budget. More specifically, the cuts to higher education. The original proposed cuts to higher education funding was close to $30 million which would have meant $11.8 million in cuts to CU. Last week, the budget commission finalized the "Long Bill" with a proposed cut of only $6-7 million in higher education funding (CU Advocates reports $7 million in cuts while CBS Denver reports just under $6 million in cuts). This means a much lower cut for CU, $4.6 million. While it would be better to receive no cuts, the proposed "Long Bill" shows that Colorado is making some progress in coming out of the recession. For the first time in many years, the bill proposes no cuts to K-12 education funding. 

The "Long Bill" goes before the House on April 4th. Hopefully, if passed as is (or with even lower cuts to higher ed), we may finally see some relief in tuition increases. Either way, I'll be here keeping you informed.

Chancellor's Response to SR06-11/12

Chancellor Response to SGA Resolution 03 16 12

For more information, read my blog on SR06-11/12.

Words, words, words.

[source unknown]

Now that you've had some time to chew on the facts about how UCCS and CU report their budgets and are accountable, both to the state and themselves, as well as the depressing facts about the level of higher education funding in Colorado, can you tell me what the purpose is of this resolution?

Increase) Revised on 3.19

This document takes no action as everything stipulated in the document is already taking place. It does not make a particular stance as "concerns and reservations" are not defined. (And, I certainly don't need this document to tell me that I'm a student advocate. I'm a US citizen and can voice my concerns and reservations anytime I want, plus the SGA Constitution and Bylaws already tell me that as a SGA representative, I am expected to be an advocate for the students.)  This resolution is, in fact, just words.

While I was in Denver at the capitol working as a CU and higher education advocate, SGA leaders and leaders-elect stayed behind to present and pass these words at the SGA Senate. Besides Clyde, I was the only current UCCS student in attendance. However, I did meet many student government representatives and students from all the other CU campuses. Why is this impotent document so much more important than actually representing UCCS student needs to CU and government officials?

I don't know about you, but I think it actually takes doing something in order to get something done.

Raise Your Torches & Pitchforks for Tuition

Whenever tuition increases, we tend to get out our torches and pitchforks and aim them towards the university's administration and the CU Regents, but maybe it's time to aim those torches and pitchforks at the people that are really responsible.

In the past 20 years, Colorado has been cutting higher education at a drastic rate. Below are a couple graphs from a recent report called "Cuts to higher ed budget mean families will pay more" that was published by The Bell Policy Center.

In a national comparison, 

Unfortunately, as the State share continues to decline, tuition rates have to increase in order to bridge the gap. 

As The Bell Policy Center's Plain Talk brief explains, higher education continues to be cut in Colorado due to the limitations of the state General Fund of which much is committed legally to other areas of spending such as K-12 education, Medicaid and funding correctional facilities.

Eventually, if nothing changes, state funding for higher education may diminish altogether. 

Below are some graphic representations of how state cuts in higher education funding have impacted the CU system.

Let's start with CU's current budget. 

As you can see, the state currently funds only 5.7% of CU's budget. Here is a representation of how that % has changed over the past 10 years. 

The pie chart below explains how the revenue is split up. 

Here is more historical information about Colorado's cuts to higher education. 

Even through everything, CU has worked hard to keep costs low for students. 

While the state has been cutting funding and leaving students scrambling to find a way to pay for their education, CU has been working hard to take some of the burden off students by increasing institutional aid by over $80 million.

It looks to me like the university administration and the Regents have been working tirelessly for us. 

Let's turn our torches and pitchforks in the right direction. 

Share your story with local and state officials.

Spread the word about this major crisis in higher education funding. 

And, join hundreds of alumni and supporters by becoming a CU Advocate.