Holding onto research  power

University of Connecticut Vice President for Research Suman Singha reported to university trustees that ...]]> A look at recent developments in New England higher education shows a region struggling to hold onto its historical research  prowess and adding new health programs, but also facing rising costs and declining funds.

Holding onto research  power

University of Connecticut Vice President for Research Suman Singha reported to university trustees that research dollars are drying up. Research funding has declined by approximately 10% over the past two years. For FY11, total research dollars were approximately $225 million and the loss of one-time federal stimulus funds of $52.9 million accounted for nearly 25% of UConn’s research dollars last fiscal year, Singha said

Last year, UConn received $61.4 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). But NIH officials said thousands of grants will be eliminated, and UConn CFO Richard Gray warned of a “funding cliff.”

Still, UConn officials point to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s support of two initiatives expected to increase federal funds for research. One is the expansion of UConn’s Health Center. The other is the opening at UConn's Storrs campus of the Maine-based Jackson Laboratories and new technology center.

University of New Hampshire President Mark Huddleston told the New Hampshire Senate Finance Committee that UNH captures more federal research dollars per faculty member than any other land grant university in New England. “Since 2001, we have had 174 invention disclosures, filed 83 patent applications, executed 97 license agreements, spun-off eight start-up companies, and received almost $2 million in royalties.”

University of Massachusetts President Robert Caret has set his sights on increasing research funding and bringing in $750 million—about $200 million more than last year.

University of Maine Receives $3M  Grant from EDA

The University of Maine’s Advanced Engineering and Wood Composites Center received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration. Funds will be used to buy robotics equipment. Center Director Habib Dagher notes that robotics will create composite materials with a precision and speed that can’t be matched by existing technology. Those composites will be used in turbine blades, towers and bases. The grant, announced in the fall will help create the center’s “robotics manufacturing cell.” Dagher said the new cell will help bring all of the design, engineering, manufacturing and testing functions to a single place, increasing efficiency and saving costs. The center, at the Orono campus, was expanded to include the Offshore Wind Laboratory. The lab formally was scheduled to open in November with the aim of advancing the work designing, building and testing deepwater, wind-generating technology in which the center is a national leader.

“This investment will advance efforts to develop deepwater offshore wind power in Maine,” said U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud (D-Maine). “The work being done by the university has the potential to help break our dependence on foreign oil while creating good-paying jobs in our state.”

Preparing healthcare providers

The University of New England’s College of Dental Medicine is slated to open its doors at the Portland campus by fall 2012. This will be the first dental school in northern New England. Founding dean James J. Koelbi submitted UNE’s application for accreditation to the American Dental Association in March 2011. An accreditation team will visit the campus in spring 2012 and a final decision on accrediting is expected in late summer 2012. Harvard, Tufts and Boston universities and the University of Connecticut are currently the only New England universities with dental schools. UConn’s School of Dental Medicine offers qualified New England students whose states do not have a dental school, reduced tuition under NEBHE's Regional Student Program.

In Rhode Island, healthcare is the largest industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that nationally the healthcare sector will generate 3.2 million jobs between 2008 and 2018—more than any other sector. U.S. Rep. James Langevin (D-R.I.), Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts (D-R.I.) and state Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-R.I.) joined URI President David M. Dooley to announce the university’s new health studies major. The new major offers an interdisciplinary approach which focuses on health services, health promotion and/or global and environmental health, by bringing together 28 departments and eight colleges on URI’s Kingston campus.

UMass Dartmouth, Bristol and Massasoit community colleges signed an articulation agreement to provide a smooth transfer process for community college students into a new health services degree program offered at UMass Dartmouth. Officials from the three campuses hailed the agreement as an example of a partnership to prepare students for employment in high-demand areas such as radiology and dental hygiene provided they meet certain requirements.

But danger lurks

Prior to the passage of the state budget for FY12, state support for the University System of New Hampshire hovered around 13% of its operating funds. In the last budget cycle, state support fell to 6% when funding was reduced to $48.5 million. The system has taken steps to adjust by freezing wages and hiring, cutting 200 positions, cutting other expenses and raising tuition and fees. Also, the system is increasing its efforts in fundraising, making improvements in the licensing of intellectual property and adding new degree and certificate programs.

UNH associate professor of economics Neil Niman raises the issue of privatizing the system and reviewing costs such as the administrative offices of the system, Cooperative Extension and other programs that come with the university’s designation as a land-, sea- and space-grant university.

"If the state says we're not going to support those [programs], does the university then continue to have that kind of commitment?" Niman said. "Is it fair to ask you [the students] to pay for those sorts of activities through your tuition?"

Huddleston remains committed to keeping the university’s public status. He noted that much can be learned from private universities in areas such as philanthropy. He plans to step up those efforts and work toward providing a more flexible structure for the university.

Former Maine state Senate President Mark Lawrence suggested a single tuition rate for in-state and out-of-state students. In-state rates would be adjusted based on the funds appropriated by the legislature.

NH college grads have highest debt in U.S.

Students graduating from public and private colleges and universities in New Hampshire had accumulated an average debt of $31,048 by the time they graduated, compared with $25,250 nationally, according to the Project on Student Debt’s report, “Student Debt and the Class of 2010.”

Students graduating from the most prestigious and most expensive schools accumulated less debt, which is attributed to large endowments, scholarships and parents with more resources. Dartmouth College graduates had an average debt load of $18,700 while students graduating from the UNH had an average debt of $32,320. More than three-quarters of students at UNH have loans.

In other higher ed news around New England ...

Judicial Watch, a public interest group that investigates and prosecutes violations of federal law, has advised the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education that recent changes allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates violate the law. Twelve states now have laws that permit undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates.

Rhode Island has a policy but not a law. The Rhode Island General Assembly has consistently rejected in-state rates for undocumented students. The policy approved by the Board of Governors is scheduled to go into effect in the fall 2012. It will apply to all public colleges, community colleges and the University of Rhode Island. Eligible students are those who have attended a high school in the state for at least three years and graduated or received a GED. Students must also make a commitment to seek legal status as soon as they are eligible.

In Vermont,  the University of Vermont Interim President John Bramley says a review of the relationship between UVM and the state of Vermont is long overdue. Gov. Peter Shumlin supports such a review and has appointed a task force to reevaluate the relationship between the university and the state. The state contributes $40 million to UVM’s $600 million budget. Shumlin says the state needs to better target the money it spends on UVM.

Business leaders have advised both Shumlin and Bramley that they would like to see more focus on STEM fields. The task force will make recommendations to Shumlin and the new president of UVM in the summer of 2012.

Bramley points out that out-of-state students subsidize in-state students whose numbers continue to decrease. In 1989, approximately 50% of students were residents of Vermont. That share declined to 33% in 2011. Bramley adds that the pool of students graduating from high school is also declining. He notes that all universities face similar funding challenges and all are looking for new sources of revenue. Aside from tuition revenue, Bramley sees some promising areas such as online education, using facilities at UVM for conferences and other events as new sources of revenue.

Carolyn Morwick is a consultant at NEBHE and former director of the Caucus of New England State Legislatures.

Gov. Dannel Malloy’s two-year plan to deal with a $3.2 billion deficit (in the first year alone) relies on significant concessions from labor to the tune of $1.5 billion. Unions gave Malloy strong support in ...]]>

Connecticut

Gov. Dannel Malloy’s two-year plan to deal with a $3.2 billion deficit (in the first year alone) relies on significant concessions from labor to the tune of $1.5 billion. Unions gave Malloy strong support in his race for governor. The remaining portion of the deficit would be addressed through $750 million in program cuts and $1.5 billion in tax increases.

The General Assembly’s Finance and Appropriations Committees met with Malloy and reached agreement on the budget for FY12-FY13. Following the meeting, the Joint Appropriations Committee released its budget, which will be debated in the House in the coming week. The governor and legislative leaders still must finalize an agreement with labor. Malloy has said he expects to see a budget on May 6.

Higher Education

Malloy has proposed a two-year $144-million cut to public higher education. Also included in his budget is a plan to restructure the system, which features the following:

• The boards of trustees for the Connecticut State University System, the community colleges, Charter Oak State College and the Board of Governors for Higher Education would be eliminated and replaced by a Board of Regents for Higher Education and one CEO.

• The Regents would develop a strategic plan to increase Connecticut’s educational attainment with input from the public and stakeholders.

• The Regents would develop a formula to distribute taxpayer support to campuses on the basis of enrollment, attainment of identified policy goals and other factors.

• The Regents would issue annual reports on: student outcomes such as retention and graduation; allocation of resources; cost analysis of academic programs; an affordability index based on the median income of a family of four; enrollment and completion by program; transfer of college credits across institutions and a joint report with the Department of Labor on employment and earnings of graduates.

The Legislature is expected to support the plan despite reservations of several key lawmakers, who have expressed concern about costs savings and the separate and distinct missions of the institutions involved. Several legislators also question why the University of Connecticut is not part of the plan.

UConn is facing a deficit of $45 million, which includes a $25 million cut by Malloy. Tuition at UConn will increase by 2.5% for the next academic year, reflecting the rate of inflation; in-state students will pay $10,676 in tuition and fees and out-of-state students will pay $25,152.  A 2.5% increase will also be applied to tuition and fees at the four Connecticut State Universities. Meanwhile, an increase of nearly 3%  will raise tuition and fee rates at the Connecticut community colleges.

As part of his plan to reduce the state deficit, Malloy has put the $23.4 million Connecticut Independent College Scholarship Program on the chopping block. This comes at a time when cutbacks are slated for federal student aid programs including Pell Grants. Judith Greiman, president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, said more than 1,500 Connecticut students will not receive grants next year, and more than 3,000 will not receive grants in the following year. College presidents of private institutions have indicated they cannot make up the difference for the loss of the program.

The governor’s plan also includes a provision that would take away collective bargaining rights of many college faculty. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, faculty who are department heads or who hold other decision-making posts would be reclassified as managerial employees, which would disqualify them to take part in collective bargaining as faculty members.

Pre-K-12

Malloy’s budget level-funds elementary and secondary education with a slight increase to early-childhood programs. Education officials are pleased that Malloy's budget fills the gap created by the absence of $270 million in stimulus funds.

Despite Malloy’s proposals to eliminate and/or consolidate state agencies, Sen. Beth Bye has filed legislation that would create a new state agency to address the mix of early-childhood education and childcare programs. She proposes an agency similar to the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care to help eliminate the state’s overlapping child-care programs.

Malloy has increased funding for school-choice programs by $70 million in order to comply with the terms of Sheff vs. O’Neill, which requires the state to reduce racial isolation in Hartford’s public schools.

Maine

The Joint Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee continues to work on Gov. Paul LePage’s $6.1 billion spending package for the next two years. The spending plan is $300 million higher than the previous year.  Parts of the governor’s plan hinge on public employees, who are being asked to contribute 2% more of their salaries toward the state pension system, which currently has an unfunded liability of $4.4 billion. Also, the governor is asking that the retirement age for state employees be raised from 65 to 67.

Higher Education

LePage has level-funded the public higher education system in his budget. University of Maine officials, while expressing appreciation of how higher education is treated in the budget, will in all probability raise tuition by 4.5% for the coming academic year. Chancellor Richard Pattenaude says this would be the smallest increase in eight years. In 2009, tuition increased by 9.6%. The university must still deal with a $6 million deficit.

In his biennial report to the Maine Legislature, Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons called for an expansion of the system. Fitzsimmons noted that in fall 2010, the system turned away 5,300 qualified students because of a lack of capacity. He proposed a plan to increase capacity which includes expanding Southern Maine Community College to the former Brunswick Naval Air Station to eventually serve 2,000 students, and expanding Kennebec Valley Community College to the Good Will Hinckley campus, which would serve an additional 1,500 students. Fiztsimmons also mentioned "Accelerate ME," a program that helps Maine adults complete their college degrees, and the Maine Community College System’s Rural Initiative which provides scholarships and degree programs to rural students as additional ways to access higher education.

K-12

LePage’s budget provides an increase of $23 million in state aid to K-12. However, $59 million in stimulus funds will be lost, so education funding will actually decrease by $36 million. Legislators are looking to change the Essential Programs and Services/EPS funding formula for K-12, which has hurt rural communities. More than 25 bills have been filed to change the formula for education funding.

Massachusetts

The Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee released a $30.5 billion budget for FY12 on April 13. The spending plan features a controversial proposal to reform the process for setting municipal health insurance rates outside collective bargaining. House Speaker Robert DeLeo, a staunch supporter of labor, favors the reform crafted by Rep. Brian Dempsey, chair of the Ways and Means Committee. The plan is estimated to save municipalities approximately $100 million and is endorsed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

A report by the Boston Foundation cited health care costs in local budgets soaring to $1 billion from 2000 to 2007. That’s $300 million more than state aid to education during the same period. While wealthier school districts were able to make budget adjustments, poorer school districts were forced to cut books and teachers. This runs counter to the 1993 Education Reform that passed to equalize funding for all Massachusetts school districts.

The House proposal calls for local officials to set the premiums for health insurance plans. Municipal employees would have the right to bargain their share of the premiums. Municipalities would also have the option of joining the Group Insurance Commission. Employees of the Massachusetts public higher education system and all other state employees are part of the Group Insurance Commission, which sets rates and premiums for health insurance costs outside the collective bargaining process. Labor leaders view the House plan as an assault on public employees and have vowed to remove lawmakers who support the plan. The Massachusetts Teachers Association opposes the plan and supports a scaled-down version proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick.

Debate on the House budget is expected to run from Monday, April 25, through Friday, April 29. Senate President Therese Murray predicts the Senate will pass a local aid resolution, which agrees with the plan outlined in the House budget, and take up the budget in late May.

Higher Education

The House and the governor agreed on funding higher education at FY11 levels However, the system is short $61.5 million, which represents stimulus funds used in FY 11 that are no longer available. Campuses will receive 7.5% less in funding. Beginning in FY12, all campuses will be allowed to retain tuition from out-of-state students.

The University of Massachusetts and its campuses face a deficit of $54.5 million for the coming year. President Jack Wilson, who will step down after this year, has cut more than 500 faculty and administrative positions, reduced overtime and decreased energy and discretionary expenses. Wilson will also raise student fees. Current in-state tuition and mandatory fees at UMass Amherst are $11,732, Out-of-state tuition and mandatory fees are $23,628.

The state’s scholarship programs will be funded at $86.5 million, which represents a decrease of $3 million from FY11. The House budget includes an additional cut of $1.8 million.

Pre-K-12

The House budget agreed with the governor’s budget in funding pre-k–12. While local aid was reduced by $65 million, education aid to school districts was increased by $140 million.

State Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester is proposing to reward teachers and administrators when students show improvement on their MCAS scores. The plan would also mandate a course correction for teachers of students who underperform.  The Massachusetts Teachers Association takes issue with the idea that MCAS would be central in evaluating teacher performance.

Secretary of Education Paul Reville wants to examine how New Hampshire’s dropout rate fell after increasing the minimum dropout age from 16 to 18. Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire reported the rate fell to below 1% after raising the dropout age to 18. However, the New Hampshire House recently passed a bill restoring the dropout age to 16.

New Hampshire

The Senate Finance Committee heard testimony from Chancellor Edward MacKay and executives from the University System of New Hampshire who appeared before the committee to make their case for more state aid.

Gov. John Lynch cut the state appropriation to the University System of New Hampshire by 5%. The New Hampshire House went much further, cutting $31 million or 45% out of the budget for each fiscal year.

MacKay said the cut would have a dramatic impact on student aid. Cuts have also been made to the state’s scholarship programs. Lynch and the House agreed to eliminate the New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission and the state grant programs it administers.  MacKay said with federal programs being cut, there will be $6 million less for next year’s students.

The New Hampshire community colleges were cut in the House budget by $18.7 million over the next two years. Community college officials said this is the equivalent of closing two campuses. Enrollment has increased over 34% during the past three years.

Sen. Chuck Morse, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said he’s not looking to cut as deeply as the House, but indicated there will be further cuts and warned higher education officials not to blame the Legislature for rising tuitions.

UNH President Mark Huddleston formed a task force to deal with a 45% or $31 million cut to the university’s budget by the New Hampshire House. Huddleston expects to eliminate 200 positions with layoffs, buyouts and not filling vacant positions. The task force is due to report on May 1 with a list of recommendations.

The university is also in the midst of negotiating faculty contracts. The faculty proposed a 12.5% salary increase over three years, while the administration countered with a 6.5% increase over three years. A “fact finder” recommended an 8.75% increase over three years with cuts to benefits. The faculty accepted the fact finder’s recommendation. But the University System’s executive board rejected the recommendation as unrealistic given the current fiscal climate.

K-12

State aid to local school districts was cut $8.7 million. An additional $7.9 million was cut from an aid program for severely disabled students.

Education officials are also sorting out the latest results from the New England Common Assessment Program. Based on the New England Common Assessment Program/NECAP, the state issues Adequate Yearly Program (AYP) reports for grades 3-8 and 11, combined with the 2009-10 NH-Alternate Assessment results for Grades 2-7 and 10, and the Class of 2010 graduation rate.

The New Hampshire Department of Education reports that of 469 school reports, 327 did not achieve Adequate Yearly Progress/AYP in one or more areas. Also, 14 high schools failed to meet the target of an 80% graduation rate. In subject areas, 197 schools achieved AYP in reading while 166 achieved AYP in mathematics. Those schools not making AYP for two consecutive years in the same area are designated as a School in Need of Improvement. Based on the new results, 60 schools are identified as new Schools in Need of Improvement.

Rhode Island

Speaker of the House Gordon Fox rejected Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s sales tax plan in its present form, saying the plan’s proposed 1% tax on water, home heating oil and manufactured supplies is “offensive.” Fox is willing to work with the Chafee administration to come up with an alternative plan.

Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed also rejected the Chafee plan and will explore other alternatives including spending cuts and consolidations. She specifically mentioned the elimination of the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education as an area where spending could be cut.

Higher Education

Chafee won praise from college and university officials for increasing funding for higher education by $10 million for FY12. The total funding for higher education is $154 million. But the officials say it won’t stop tuition and fees from going up especially after $40 million in funding cuts in prior years. At Rhode Island College, President Nancy Carriuolo said the college must still address a $4.6 million budget gap.

Chafee appointed and the Senate confirmed eight new members of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education. The Board has 13 members and all but one member will be replaced. The new chair is Lorne Adrain, a Providence businessman and philanthropist who replaces Judge Frank Caprio.

K-12

The Chafee budget provides $700 million for school districts for FY12. Rhode Island will also receive federal Race to the Top funds of $75 million. In testimony before the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee, Commissioner Deborah Gist said the proposed budget for Rhode Island schools supports her formula for education funding, which distributes funds based on the number of students enrolled. Gist reported Rhode Island students outperformed students in New Hampshire and Vermont in the New England Common Assessment Program for 2010. Gist also admitted there are areas where improvement is needed. Only 33% of high school students were found to be “proficient” in mathematics. Rhode Island’s graduation rate, which is approximately 75% statewide, is 60% or lower in some school districts, and Hispanic students in Rhode Island have the lowest achievement rates in the U.S.

Vermont

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $4.68 billion spending plan, and the full Senate will debate the budget on April 21.

Higher Education

Gov. Peter Shumlin’s budget level-funded the University of Vermont and the Vermont State Colleges for FY12. UVM and the state colleges are asking for an additional amount of $4.2 million which reflects stimulus funds that were applied to these budgets in FY11.

UVM is requesting $43.3 million. The Vermont State Colleges are requesting $24.8 million from House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

In making their case to the House and Senate Appropriations committees, UVM President Dan Fogel and VSC Chancellor Timothy Donovan cited the following:

Vermont State Colleges:

• Full-time equivalent enrollment at all five institutions has gone up 56% over the past decade, and 114% at the Community College of Vermont.
• 54% of VSC students are the first in their families to attend college.
• 74% of VSC graduates stay in Vermont.
• Of Vermont high school seniors who planned to attend college in-state, 18% were headed to VSC in 2000 and 25% in 2008, while UVM’s share remained about the same at 12%.

University of Vermont:

• More than 29,000 UVM alumni—about 30% of all UVM graduates—live in Vermont.
• UVM is the state’s fourth largest employer, with 3,800 employees.
• UVM admitted 70% of its Vermont applicants, and of the Vermonters admitted, 40% enrolled.
• Of the roughly 25,000 out-of-state students attending college in Vermont, UVM enrolls about 32%, VSC 9%, and private colleges, 59%

UVM trustees will consider a 5.8% increase in tuition when they meet in May. Currently in-state students pay $12,888 and out-of-state students pay $32,528. Fees are $1,894. The Vermont State Colleges have already voted to increase tuition rates for the coming academic year. In-state students will pay $8,568 and out-of-state students will pay $12,864. Fees are $899.

K-12

In announcing the results of the latest NECAP statewide tests, the Vermont Department of Education invited the students of Montgomery Elementary School and their teachers and principal to attend a press conference recognizing their achievement. Officials identified 14 schools across the state with high scores for all students, as well as students in poverty. Of the schools identified, Montgomery had the highest percentage of students in poverty (63%), but also had the highest overall percentage of students who scored "proficient" and above (92.9%), and the highest percentage of students in poverty who scored proficient and above (88.8%).

According to the U.S. Census of 2010, Montgomery Center, Vt., has a population of 1,201 residents. It is a short distance from Jay Peak Mountain, which is five miles from the Canadian border. Typically, low-income, economically disadvantaged students do not experience the same  academic success as their classmates. Montgomery’s students proved to be the exception.



The good news is that the New England states are showing slight gains in revenue collections. The bad news is that it will not be enough to stave off a new round of budget cuts for the coming fiscal years. States are preparing budgets for FY12 and FY13 while addressing shortfalls in FY11 budgets. ...]]>

The good news is that the New England states are showing slight gains in revenue collections. The bad news is that it will not be enough to stave off a new round of budget cuts for the coming fiscal years. States are preparing budgets for FY12 and FY13 while addressing shortfalls in FY11 budgets. Most states have spent stimulus funds to avoid massive layoffs in K-12 districts and higher education. But governors and legislators fear the worst is yet to come.

Connecticut

Projected deficit for FY12: $3.67 billion

New Gov. Dan Malloy confronts a huge challenge in addressing Connecticut’s budget for the coming biennium. The state burned through $1.4 billion in its rainy day fund and has spent most, if not all, of the one-time stimulus funding. Malloy is scheduled to file his budget plan for the new biennium, FY12, FY13, in mid-February.

K-12

Commissioner of Education Mark McQuillan abruptly resigned from his post, citing the stress of the job and frustration with working in a politically charged environment. He also expressed his disappointment with layoffs in his department and not being successful in the competition for federal Race to the Top funds. Yet McQuillan was largely successful in navigating the political landscape and is credited with passage of school accountability legislation, a new mentoring program for teachers and passage of a school reform bill which increases requirements for graduation from middle school and high school while giving parents more power to affect change in failing schools through governance councils. Malloy will conduct a nationwide search for a new school chief. In the interim, Deputy Commissioner George Coleman is expected to fill the vacancy.

Higher Education

In June 2010, the trustees of the University of Connecticut approved a budget for FY 12 of $1.03 billion—a 4.8% increase over the previous year’s. The board also approved a 6% increase in tuition, fees and room and board charges for in-state students, which would amount to $20,968.

In September 2010, trustees of the Connecticut State University System approved a freeze on tuition and fees for academic year 2011-12, but cautioned they may have to reconsider due to the recession's severity.

Connecticut Community Colleges will increase tuition and fees by 2.5%.

Full-time students now pay $3,406 in tuition and fees, which will increase to $3,490 in the 2011-12 school year.

House Speaker Chris Donovan and Senate President Don Williams are reluctant to cut state services but are looking at ways to address the deficit including consolidating agencies and cutting the bureaucracy. Higher education is expected to be on the chopping block.

The Connecticut General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Research reported that budgets for UConn, the CSUS and the Connecticut Community Colleges increased by more than 200% over the past two decades. In a recent report released by the Legislature’s bipartisan Program Review and Investigations Committee, UConn and the CSUS were ranked ninth and 11th among peer institutions as the most expensive public universities in the U.S. Higher education leaders warned that with more cuts in state appropriations to higher education, they would have few options but to further raise charges.

Maine

Projected deficit for FY12: $1 billion

New Gov. Paul LePage appointed a committee to review all budgets and issue recommendations for the new biennium, FY12 and FY13, by the end of January. The budget is due in the Legislature on Feb. 11. Rep. Sawin Millet, formerly the ranking Republican on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and a veteran lawmaker, is heading the team of budget advisers. He was recently named director of the Department of Administration and Financial Services. LePage is expected to have the support of a Republican Legislature in making his budget recommendations for the new biennium.

Revenue collections are up by $365 million, driven by state income taxes, both individual and corporate. University of Maine economist Jim Breece said corporate tax revenue has come in above estimates all year. But he warned that the increase is the result of a change in how Maine assesses the corporate tax, not because Maine corporations have turned a profit.

K-12

LePage has not yet named his choice for education commissioner to succeed Angela Faherty who was appointed acting commissioner in July 2010, when Commissioner Susan Gendron left the post to become policy director for the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. The outlook for the department remains uncertain as speculation grows about how resources will be allocated. LePage denies reports he will downsize or eliminate the department.

Higher Education

The University of Maine System submitted a budget request to former Gov. John Baldacci requesting a $7.1 million increase for FY12 and $7.4 million for FY13 for a total of $14.5 million in the biennium. If this request is approved, students would see a 3% increase in tuition rates. If the request is rejected, a 5% increase in tuition rates would be adopted. Maine’s community college system is requesting a 3.5% budget increase in each year of the biennium for a total increase of 7% over the next two fiscal years. No increase in tuition is factored into the request. Democratic legislators have indicated that at the very least, funding for the UMaine System might remain at current levels, but most agree that some cuts are inevitable.

Massachusetts

Projected deficit for FY12: $1.5 billion

As a part of his efforts to control spending, Gov. Deval Patrick begin his second term looking at a budget that will cut $1 billion to $1.5 billion out of state government. He is also looking to exercise greater control of pensions and health care costs and may cut local aid payments. His budget will be released on Jan. 26.

K-12

According to a report recently by the Boston Foundation and the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, municipal health care costs have increased dramatically, surpassing increases in state education aid (Chapter 70).

The net effect has been to cut spending for textbooks and teacher-training programs and increase class sizes. Boston Foundation President Paul Grogan said the report “puts into clear and compelling focus what many have suspected for some time: that our good-faith efforts to close the achievement gap are being erased by the cost of health care.”

At issue is a state law that requires municipal employees to bargain collectively over health care plans, while state employees are exempt from this requirement. The result has been that health care costs for state employees have risen much more slowly than those for municipal employees. In the coming legislative session, lawmakers are expected to take up the issue of exempting collective bargaining provisions that apply to health care plans for municipal employees.

According to Linda Noonan, executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, “Our significant investment in education since 1993, and the gains in student achievement that followed, are at risk due to the uncontrolled costs of employee health care.”

Higher Education

All public institutions are preparing for additional cuts in campus budgets for FY12. University of Massachusetts Chancellor Robert Holub anticipates a cut of $18 million for the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2011. This is based on a level-funded budget and no new stimulus funds. Trustees will not set rates for tuition and fees until June. In-state students currently pay $11,732 in tuition and fees.

All public campuses—UMass, the State Universities (formerly the State Colleges) and the Community Colleges—are anticipating cuts of 7%.

New Hampshire

Projected deficit for FY12: $680 million

K-12

Following years of wrangling and lawsuits, New Hampshire will tackle a new education funding formula as Gov. John Lynch begins his fourth term. But already, many communities are complaining their school budgets will suffer.

Higher Education

After three consecutive fiscal years of level-funded budgets, the University System of New Hampshire requested an increase of $5 million in FY12 and an additional $5 million in FY13, with a total increase of $10 million for the biennium. The Community College System of New Hampshire is requesting a 4% increase in its budgets for FY12 and FY13.

Rhode Island

Projected deficit for FY12: $295 million

Gov. Lincoln Chafee begins his first term, as the state budget office is requesting all agencies to apply a 15% cut to their budget requests for FY12.

K-12

Commissioner of Education Deborah Gist will not comply with the state budget office’s request to cut 15% out of her budget and is requesting an increase of $45.5 million or a 5.3% increase in state funding.  Approximately half of this amount would offset the loss of stimulus funds and the remaining amount would be distributed to local school districts in education aid.

Higher Education

The Board of Governors for Higher Education also rejected a request from the state budget office to cut budgets by 15% and instead approved a $31 million or 22% increase in funding for academic year 2011-12 for the public higher education system. There would be no increases in tuition or fees.

The Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority is requesting an increase of  $21 million in funding. Executive Director William Hurry said a cut of 15% would mean reducing scholarships for college-bound students.

Vermont

Projected deficit for FY12: $112+ million

In fall 2010, the deficit was projected to be $112 million, but according to the Vermont General Assembly’s financial analysts, it may be closer to $150 million.

K-12

As part of the Challenges for Change initiative, which cuts spending across the board in state and local governments, Vermont’s school boards were asked to reduce their budgets by 2.3%, allowing for a reduction in property taxes. In mid-December, however, education officials reported that the state’s 60 school districts could not meet the $23.2 million in voluntary spending reductions. Some districts reduced their budgets by a combined total of $4 million in budget proposals for FY12. With the majority of districts not being able to meet the targeted cuts, new Gov. Peter Shumlin announced that property tax rates will remain the same for FY12 and suggested using $19 million in federal stimulus funds to bridge the gap.

Voters will have a chance to weigh in on school budgets and the property tax rates on the first Tuesday in March, Town Meeting Day, when most school boards present their budgets for the coming fiscal year.

Higher Education

Trustees for the University of Vermont approved a budget for $289 million for FY11, which included a 4% increase in tuition. The budget reflects a 1.4% increase over the previous year. In prior years, tuition increased at the rate of 6%. For FY11, the in-state tuition rate is $12,180, and the out-of-state rate is $30,744.

Trustees for the Vermont State Colleges approved an increase in tuition rates of 3% for FY11. In the previous year, tuition rates increased by 6.8%. For FY 11, in-state tuition at the Vermont State Colleges is $8,232. Out-of-state tuition is $18,792.

Carolyn Morwick is a consultant at NEBHE and former director of the Caucus of New England State Legislatures.



Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine announced the “Best Values in Public Colleges 2011," its annual ranking of 100 public colleges and universities in the U.S.

Four New England institutions are on the list: the University of Connecticut, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont. Among the 100 public colleges ...]]>

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine announced the “Best Values in Public Colleges 2011," its annual ranking of 100 public colleges and universities in the U.S.

Four New England institutions are on the list: the University of Connecticut, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont. Among the 100 public colleges in terms of value for state residents, UConn ranks 32nd;  UVM, 72nd; UMass Amherst, 83rd; and UNH, 93rd.

For out-of-state students, UConn ranks 36th; UMass Amherst, 59th; UVM, 83rd; and UNH, 94th.

Kiplinger's bases the rankings on a combination of academics and affordability, using data from more than 500 public four-year schools, provided by Peterson's/Nelnet and its own research. Kiplinger's says it uses measurable criteria, such as student-faculty ratios, admission rates, on-time graduation rate, sticker price and financial aid awarded, to develop the rankings.

Wendy A. Lindsay is senior director of NEBHE's Tuition Break (Regional Student Program).

The University of Connecticut appointed Susan Herbst as its first female president. Herbst was executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at the University System of Georgia and, before that, acting president of the State University of New York at Albany. Her brother, Jeffrey Herbst, is president of Colgate ...]]>

The University of Connecticut appointed Susan Herbst as its first female president. Herbst was executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at the University System of Georgia and, before that, acting president of the State University of New York at Albany. Her brother, Jeffrey Herbst, is president of Colgate University.

Meanwhile, New England will have to learn to live without two of America's greenest college presidents.

College of the Atlantic President David F. Hales, who announced he will step down after graduation in June, will go on extended leave beginning Jan. 1, 2011. The COA  board named current Administrative Dean Andrew Griffiths as interim president.

Unity College President Mitchell Thomashow steps down as the ninth president on July 1, leaving the small environmental college in rural Unity, Maine, with a national niche as a champion of sustainability.

Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) will  host a lecture by University of Connecticut economics professor Fred Carstensen, director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m., in the J. Eugene Smith Library.

The lecture is part of the David T. Chase Free Enterprise Institute's Distinguished Lecture Series and is open ...]]>

Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) will  host a lecture by University of Connecticut economics professor Fred Carstensen, director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m., in the J. Eugene Smith Library.

The lecture is part of the David T. Chase Free Enterprise Institute's Distinguished Lecture Series and is open to the public.

Carstensen has completed more than 100 studies during his tenure with CCEA and authored and edited numerous books and articles on economic, political and business development around the world.

Business professionals interested in learning how to better identify and manage financial risk can turn to a new master’s program in Financial Risk Management at the University of Connecticut.

The program's location in Stamford, Conn., provides students with the opportunity to interact with finance professionals in Stamford and New York. Not only that, residents of Maine, ...]]>

Business professionals interested in learning how to better identify and manage financial risk can turn to a new master’s program in Financial Risk Management at the University of Connecticut.

The program's location in Stamford, Conn., provides students with the opportunity to interact with finance professionals in Stamford and New York. Not only that, residents of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont are eligible to pay a reduced out-of-state tuition rate for the program.

UConn’s program is unique among New England public colleges and universities, so it has approval under the New England Board of Higher Education’s Tuition Break, the Regional Student Program (RSP).  A New England resident enrolled full-time in the program this year would save an estimated $8,400 in annual tuition. For information on other graduate programs approved under NEBHE's Tuition Break, view the  2011-12 RSP Tuition Break Graduate Catalog.

Brandeis University trustees named George Washington University Law School dean Frederick M. Lawrence to succeed Jehuda Reinharz as Brandeis president, beginning after Jan. 1, 2011. Lawrence became dean of the GWU Law School in 2005, after nearly two decades teaching at the Boston University School of Law.

University of Connecticut trustees appointed Philip E. ...]]>

Brandeis University trustees named George Washington University Law School dean Frederick M. Lawrence to succeed Jehuda Reinharz as Brandeis president, beginning after Jan. 1, 2011. Lawrence became dean of the GWU Law School in 2005, after nearly two decades teaching at the Boston University School of Law.

University of Connecticut trustees appointed Philip E. Austin to serve as interim president of the university where he oversaw major growth as president from 1996 to 2007, including shepherding the $1 billion infrastructure improvement and private incentive program known as UConn 2000.

Jo Ann Rooney, former president of Spalding University in Kentucky, took the reins of Mount Ida College after the college's nine-month search to fill the position.

Debra Townsley, president of Nichols College was  named the new president of Peace College in Raleigh, N.C.

Boston College Law School dean John H. Garvey was appointed president of Catholic University of America—the D.C. college's first lay leader.