Discussing funding for higher education

Friday, 18 March 2011 16:52

Discussing funding for higher education

Written by Scott LaMar, Director of Radio Smart Talk

We're going to talk in greater detail about a subject that came up this past week on Radio Smart Talk - funding for higher education. You may recall Governor Corbett's proposed state budget calls for slashing funds for state-supported colleges and universities by 50 percent. We'll consider where such cuts would leave those schools, and their students. We'll also seek your view on how much (if at all) the state should fund such institutions.

WITF's State Capitol Bureau Chief Scott Detrow produced a summary of Gov. Corbett's proposed higher education cuts for NPR today. Hear it here:

Listen to The Radio Smart Talk program:

Published in Smart Talk

comments

# Lynn Francis 2011-03-20 16:50

I hope this show will be balanced. While 50% cuts are certainly steep, there are legitimate public policy reasons to direct more higher education funding to students as Gov. Corbett has enunciated. When you target funds to institutions, you subsidize those who need the state help and those who don't equally. When you subsidize students, you can target your state support more effectively.

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# Laura E. Gochnauer 2011-03-21 09:22

I am a Millersville University Junior (Social Work major and Spanish minor). The proposed cuts will have a dramatic affect on students. I would like the public to know that students want to make a change. I am meeting with my State Representative and other students are signing petitions, meeting and writing to public officials.

I ask that the public, outside of the student population, to follow our example and let your Senators and Representatives know what you think!

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# Tim Rittle 2011-03-21 09:57

over the years I have developed the opinion that colleges have grown fat.
your disscusion has not changed that opinion.
Isn't it possible to trim the fat without hurting the student

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# D. Walker 2011-03-21 10:11

Why is it that there is no mention of national and state elected officials cutting or freezing their salaries, cutting the payments for life of long term care insurances and excessive retirement benefits and other perks that come with the job? And, while I'm at it, why did WITF choose this time of economic cutbacks to make a change in their logo which requires many expenses. We were all familiar with the logo. I know the reasoning behind a logo change - but at this time??

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# Dr. Harold W. Gardner 2011-03-21 10:28

I am opposed to the cuts in higher education. Pennsylvania will suffer as a result of GOP (Geriatric Old Policies)politi cians. I received a BS, MS, and PhD from Penn State. If I recall, tuition and room and board in the 50's was $600 per semester. A few solutions could be: (1) massively tax Marcellus Shale Operations (not likely as Corbett received huge campaign contributions from them); (2) place an education tax on industry, who are the beneficiaries of higher education;(3) cut sports to the bare bones as it does not in any way contribute to education; and (4) cut the pay to the legislature. In conclusion, Corbett's plan proves that present-day GOP politicians are truly regressive!

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# Craig Cohen 2011-03-21 12:42

Thanks, everyone, for your comments so far, and keep 'em coming!

D. - I'm told the new witf logo is actually more cost effective to place on print materials, and that's one of the primary reasons the new logo was created. (I guess two colors are cheaper to print than the six or seven on the old logo).

- Craig

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# Alice Riden 2011-03-21 13:33

It is my opinion that Gov. Corbett has completely misunderstood the charter of Penn State University. The school was founded as a land-grant institution and was to remain State funded, at least in large part. The cuts to Penn State's budget will be especially detrimental to the College of Agriculture, which supports the State's largest industry. These cuts undermine not only PA's higher education, but also the Agricultural economy of the state.

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# Nanette 2011-03-21 15:22

Interesting program today. I wanted to comment that one of the saving mentioned was the use of online course. There are several factors against these as two of my children and I have found. My son's told that they might not count duel-enrollment courses when he starts in the fall. I believe that many people still do not understand that online are as hard or harder than traditional classes. They are also difficult to document the hours for child care and subsidies. When I read about this as a grad student in education, colleges had found that online course are as costly to run. So I think these are not the solution yet.

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# Craig Ferich 2011-03-22 05:29

A purpose driven approach would focus on teaching our youth. Instead, our current approach seeks to fund an antiquated and expensive system of "careers in education" at taxpayers' and students' expense. Surely we can improve the system and reduce costs.

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