Like many states, Minnesota has incurred large budget deficits during the past two years. Those deficits have, in turn, led to changes in a number of areas of state government, particularly higher education. Faculty have incurred pay freezes and layoffs, programs have closed, and tuition increased. Campuses within the MnSCU system have been…

In autumn, most colleges' football fields are covered with a thick carpet of grass or artificial turf and are adorned with yard lines. But the football field at Paul Quinn College was carved up by plowing and planting. This past fall, portions of the college's gridiron were covered with sweet potatoes, watermelons, peppers, rosemary, and sugar…

States and school districts are facing unprecedented financial pressure due to the continued poor performance of the United States's economy. Dramatic shortfalls in funding due to reduced tax collections were held off for 2 years thanks to federal stimulus funds, but with these revenues already consumed and little likelihood of more in the near…

In this article, the authors argue that there "is" a real fiscal problem in higher education, but it is not the huge endowment losses--20 to 30 percent--that are attracting so much publicity. Those losses play only a small role in higher education's current financial dilemma, and then only at a comparatively few colleges and universities--but they…

This article considers the role of higher education in state budgets. It empirically models and tests the balance wheel hypothesis in a robust framework. The balance wheel model posits that in good economic times, higher education is an attractive area for states to fund and tends to be funded at a higher rate than other state budget categories.…

The focus of the study was to examine the impact of the recession on (1) community college funding, (2) community college student support services, and (3) on student enrollment. This study relied on data from document analysis and interview of community college personnel and students. The current crisis has resulted in a steep budget reduction to…

This year was bleak for state higher-education budgets. But college leaders are even more worried about what comes next. The billions of dollars in federal stimulus aid to plug shortfalls in state education budgets have helped limit the damage this year, but the money hasn't prevented all of the cuts to college budgets. Most states are spending…

When California approved its budget last month, the community-college system managed to escape the sharp budget cuts that befell most other agencies. But the state's fiscal troubles have nonetheless created a cash crisis for two-year colleges. As part of its plan to close a $41-billion budget deficit, California will delay providing $540-million…

Presents an overview of those documents from the ERIC Clearinghouse for Junior Colleges dealing with community college financing in a period of declining resources and student enrollments. (CM)

The Governor of California's veto actions on the 1983-84 Budget Bill amounted to a cut of $232 million, eliminating the funding necessary to implement equalization, inflation, and growth provisions. This funding cut will result in a 12% decline in the real buying power of community college budgets. The Governor's cut is particularly unfortunate…

The passage of the Jarvis-Gann initiative (Proposition 13) in California made it illegal for community colleges to tax local homeowners for the purpose of increasing revenue. The impact on the colleges of decreased local revenues was drastic, though less than had been predicted. In 1979, the districts received funding which was 85% of the level of…

The 1970's have seen a significant slowing in the rate of growth of enrollment and a relative drop in the priority accorded to university education by provincial governments and to university research by the federal government. Institutional responses in Canada are described. (LBH)

College health services are examined regarding (1) their relation to financial constraints on higher education in general; (2) the need to adjust to these restraints; and (3) the need to develop broader missions for the health service as an integral part of the institution. (MJB)

The problem of student failure has been aggravated by the worsening financial condition of large U.S. cities. The author offers several partial solutions that might help schools combat the problem of dwindling resources. (Author/WD)

A financial analysis of intercollegiate athletics indicates that the programs are excessively deficit-producing and that the financial crisis would exist even if women's athletics were not a factor. Sources of revenues and expenditures are examined and cost control alternatives are suggested. (JMD)