News: Creating a Genuinely Sustainable Higher Education System

This article from The Guardian by Matt Grist discusses the future of higher education in the United Kingdom and some possibilities for improvement. Follow the link below to read more about some of the opportunities that are being proposed for students and future students at universities in the United Kingdom.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2012/may/16/financial-sustainability-universties

Higher education is an investment we can’t afford to neglect

This article from The Olympian discusses the importance of supporting American institutions of higher learning. Here is an excerpt:

There is no doubt that legislators face difficult choices, but continuing to erode our higher education system is nothing more than shortsighted. And while I am very grateful to see that the recently proposed House higher education budget begins to reverse the trend and prioritize higher education – it still includes $30 million in cuts to four-year institutions alone. I am also very encouraged to see the House budget propose a $12 million investment in science, technology, engineering and math degree production. This is a critical investment for the technology and aerospace industries. Western and our other higher education institutions can play an important role in helping respond to the increased need for graduates with bachelor degrees in engineering and other STEM areas.
But the situation is clear. If our institutions are forced to take more cuts, the result will be increasingly limited access to higher education for Washington students, particularly the middle class, and a long-term blow to Washington businesses that rely on an educated workforce that we simply won’t be able to provide. I hope that our leaders in Olympia will make the right decisions this session, ones that will put us on track for economic recovery and long-term success.

Read more here: http://www.theolympian.com/2012/03/08/v-print/2021118/higher-education-is-an-investment.html?storylink=fb#storylink=cpy

Protests in California AGAINST Educational Cuts

This article by Greg Lucas of the Associated Press is about the recent protests against education cuts in California. You can read an excerpt here:

Dozens of protesters angry over fee hikes and budget cuts at California's public universities were arrested on Monday night during a boisterous but peaceful demonstration inside the state Capitol building.

The arrests capped a day in which hundreds of students and others marched on the statehouse and rallied outside the Capitol before many of the activists moved the demonstration inside the building, clogging hallways in and around the rotunda.

One group chanted, "No cuts, no fees. Education must be free," as they sat crossed-legged on the black-and-white tiled floor of the statehouse.

Fla. Senate panel passes nearly $71 billion budget

This article is from The Miami Herald 

The Florida Senate on Wednesday charged ahead with a nearly $71 billion budget, despite complaints from university students, hospital lobbyists and even some Republicans in the House about some of the decisions contained in the spending plan.

The Senate Budget Committee voted unanimously for the budget proposal after a marathon all-day session that focused primarily on the deep cuts the budget has in store for the state's 11 public universities. The legislation also cuts spending on hospitals, limits emergency room visits for poor patients, and eliminates thousands of state worker jobs.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/15/2642316/fla-senate-to-take-up-708-billion.html#storylink=cpy

Audience protests job cuts, programs at school meeting

This article  is from Lincoln California 

More than 125 parents and school district staff packed the Lincoln High School theater on Tuesday night to show their concern over potential budget cuts.

The district is faced with making $5.75 million in budget cuts for the 2012-2013 school year, according to Western Placer Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Business Joyce Lopes.

The board will vote Feb. 21 on the proposed budget reductions, Lopes said.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the board was presented a list of proposed budget reductions for the next fiscal year.

“This is a very difficult day for our district,” Lopes said. “Here at our district, we tried to take a balanced approach and used reserves over the past several years. Today, unfortunately, we are faced with the need to make $5.75 million in cuts.”

Budget bill would make USF Polytechnic state’s 12th university

This article is from Miami Herald

Senate leaders inserted last-minute language in a budget bill Wednesday to immediately split the Lakeland campus of the University of South Florida into the state’s 12th university.

This move would fulfill a top priority of Senate budget Chairman JD Alexander, R-Lake Wales, who, because of term limits, is in his last legislative session. It would allow the 1,300-student branch campus in Lakeland to almost completely sever ties with USF and become "Florida Polytechnic" this year.

The bill was sprung on unsuspecting lawmakers minutes before the start of a late-afternoon higher education budget meeting.

"Is this the procedure, to get one piece of paper to create a new university?" asked state Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Alachua.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/09/2632607/budget-bill-would-make-usf-polytechnic.html#storylink=cpy