economy
December 9, 2010
Protests Continue as Britain Approves Sharp Fee Increases
The Chronicle reports that British Parliament has approved controversial higher education reforms that are expected to skyrocket college prices by as much as three times current rates (see previous post: Britain Rethinks Higher Ed Financing). Elsewhere, the Chronicle details ongoing student and faculty protests across Europe in response to these and similar proposals in other…
UC Commission Proposes Familiar Strategies for Cutting Costs
The University of California Commission on the Future recently released its final report addressing potential solutions for keeping public higher education in California vibrant in the face of declining resources. A group that included regents, administrators, faculty and students, the Commission’s 50 page report recommended a host of actions for UC to consider, including: Expand…
December 8, 2010
Loss of Federal Stimulus Funds About to Hit State Budgets Hard
The National Conference of State Legislatures released their November 2010 State Budget Update today. While the report notes that many states are experiencing some level of stabilization in revenue collections, and beginning to be more optimistic about the general revenue outlook, they are at the same time facing unprecedented pressures on the demand for services…
Federal Maintenance of Effort Requirement Makes State Financial Aid Programs Vulnerable
Both the American Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 and the 2010 Education Jobs Fund provided federal funding for education. In exchange for accepting federal funds, both fiscal relief vehicles came with Maintenance of Effort (MOE) provisions requiring states to continue financial support for higher education institutions at certain minimum levels. However, some forms of state…
November 30, 2010
California Projects Annual Deficits of $20b Through 2016
A new report from California’s non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), California’s Fiscal Outlook, details current California state budget projections through at least 2016. The LAO projects that CA will have to solve at least a $25.4 billion deficit for 2011-12, and will continue to face budget gaps of at least $20 billion per year through…
Seattle Times Highlights Importance of Pension Funding Policy
The Seattle Times published an article yesterday that outlined the State Treasurer’s desire to pursue a state constitutional amendment that would require the Legislature, starting in 2015, to invest more money into pension plans up front to help the state avoid ever entering ‘pay-go’ status where pension obligations must be covered from the state general…
November 24, 2010
Elevating the College Cost Debate
As we reported last month, two economists at the College of William and Mary have published a new book called Why Does College Cost So Much?. We are almost finished reading this very well written and researched book and will provide our own assessment soon. In the meantime, the book continues to generate passionate discussion–see…
November 20, 2010
Additional Near- and Long-Term Cuts Expected as State’s Revenue Forecast Worsens
After the November 18, 2010 release of the state’s November revenue forecast, Vice Provost of Planning and Budgeting Paul Jenny released the following information to UW leadership: As most of you are aware, the November revenue forecast for the state was released yesterday, and it was not good news. The forecast projects a shortfall of…
November 8, 2010
New OPB Brief: WA State Public Pensions
Be sure to check out our latest OPB Brief, Looking Ahead: Washington State Public Pension Costs. This brief is the first in a series intended to provide summary information about major categories of state spending that could impact budgetary outcomes for higher education in future biennia.
November 2, 2010
APLU Releases Regional Meetings Report
In advance of the 123rd annual meeting in Dallas on November 14, The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) has released the final report resulting from five regional meetings to discuss key concerns about the future of public research universities, one of which took place at UW Seattle on April 26, 2010. The report,…
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