| Many public colleges and universities in the US are | | | | time. |
| raising tuition, laying off hundreds of workers and | | | | As many as 750 jobs will be eliminated, and program |
| eliminating courses in response to state funding cuts | | | | cuts will include several intercollegiate sports teams. |
| that are unprecedented in recent memory. | | | | The Rutgers Business School-Newark and New |
| Rutgers, for example, New Jersey's largest higher | | | | Brunswick will eliminate its Department of Business |
| education institution, and the state's other public | | | | Environment and International Business. |
| colleges and universities are grappling with the loss of | | | | The budget slashing at Rutgers and other colleges |
| tens of millions of dollars in funding from the state. | | | | and universities is the result of funding cuts in a state |
| "These are serious reductions with serious | | | | where funding for higher education failed to keep up |
| consequences," said Albert Gamper Jr., chairman of | | | | with inflation over the years, but was never reduced. |
| the Rutgers University Board of Governors, which | | | | When a state budget finally emerged July 8 after a |
| approved a tuition-raising, program-slashing budget. | | | | weeklong shutdown of government services, some |
| The situation in New Jersey, prompted by the need | | | | of Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed cuts to higher |
| to close a state budget deficit estimated at more | | | | education had been restored. But state colleges still |
| than $4 billion, comes at a time when many other | | | | will receive tens of millions less than last year. |
| state governments are flush with money and | | | | The budget cuts direct funding to higher education |
| increasing spending on higher education. | | | | by about $104 million, versus the $169 million Corzine |
| "The economy has picked up since the recession of | | | | proposed. That leaves higher education institutions |
| '01, so now we're catching up," said Jim Palmer, a | | | | with $2.11 billion in state funding this year. |
| professor of higher education at Illinois State | | | | Corzine had also planned not to reimburse the state's |
| University. | | | | large public colleges and universities for $121.8 million in |
| A better state funding situation, however, was not | | | | expected salary and fringe-benefit increases for their |
| what the Rutgers University Board of Governors was | | | | employees. But the Legislature restored about $80 |
| facing when it met to approve a $1.63 billion budget. | | | | million of that amount. |
| The university had to grapple with an $80 million | | | | The Legislature, as in previous years, placed an 8 |
| budget shortfall, $66 million due to state funding cuts. | | | | percent limit on tuition increases. |
| The response was to raise tuition for in-state | | | | At New Jersey's nine state colleges and universities, |
| undergraduates by 8 percent, the maximum allowed | | | | which do not include Rutgers, tuition is going up |
| by state legislators. The board also approved $50 | | | | between 7 and 8 percent and programs are also |
| million in spending cuts, including layoffs. | | | | being slashed, said Paul Shelly, spokesman for the |
| A typical undergraduate student from New Jersey | | | | New Jersey Association of State Colleges and |
| living on Rutgers' campus will pay $19,000 for tuition, | | | | Universities. |
| room and board and fees in the upcoming school | | | | Annual tuition at New Jersey's public colleges last year |
| year, up from $17,799. | | | | ranged from $4,898 at Kean University in Union |
| Rutgers also will eliminate about 800 courses and | | | | Township to $8,472 at the New Jersey Institute of |
| course sections, which could make it harder for | | | | Technology in Newark. |
| students to find classes they need to graduate on | | | | |