Rep. Fred Brown, R-Bryan, says voting in favor of tuition deregulation last year was a mistake.
"I was a big supporter of tuition deregulation, and I'm almost embarrassed now to tell people I was," Brown told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. "I don't know what to tell people now except for it was a dumb move on my part."
After returning home during the legislature's winter break and receiving a few angry phone calls from tuition-paying parents, Brown and other state legislators are doing their best to condemn the tuition hikes.
Don't blame me for your tuition increase seems to be the mantra of many state representatives.
Instead of passing the buck, Legislators could better serve their constituencies by explaining the following:
*The state paid 95.8 percent of the University's total budget 30 years ago. Now the state pays 34.5 percent of the bills. To maintain programs, services and status, the University needs more money. Since the Legislature won't provide the funds, the students have to.
*With the portion of the University's budget bankrolled by the state expected to decrease further in the coming years, the Legislature granted the University of Texas System the freedom to set - and increase - tuition.
*Only students from households earning more than $80,000 a year pay the full $360 increase at the University of Texas this semester. Also, 28 percent of the money from the tuition increase goes toward financial aid for students from poorer households.
*The UT System received nearly $40 million less, a decrease of 6.2 percent, from the state this year while enrollment in System schools increased 14 percent.
*The University of Texas has an $85.8 million budget gap. Despite the increase, the University will still have a $33.8 million shortfall. The University plans to postpone repairs and renovations to balance its budget. Similar projects needed tending in 2001, and it's estimated those same projects will now cost the University $10 million more than if the University had dealt with them in 2001.
Legislators should explain to their angry constituents that the future of the state depends on having high-quality colleges and universities producing educated, intelligent graduates.
Sure, the tuition increases are a burden on the students. But, in the end, the hikes are necessary for the good of the state, its universities and, in the long run, the students.
While it's nice to see legislators devoting so much time ensuring the increased funds were necessary, are spent correctly and finding ways to get students more financial aid, it would have been nicer if they had made funding higher education a priority.
Be the first to comment on this article!