Shifting Priorities Seen Wreaking Havoc With College Budgets

By Mark Pitsch

WASHINGTON--Shifting policy and fiscal priorities of the federal and state governments are damaging public higher education, the presidents of 16 public colleges and universities warned at a press conference here last week.

Largely because of the increasing costs of meeting federal mandates on environmental quality, Medicaid, welfare, and other programs, the presidents argued, states have slashed their higher-education budgets. As a result, public institutions are experiencing dramatic increases in tuition, threats to access, the erosion of educational quality, and a reduction in staff and faculty, they charged.

Moreover, the presidents contended, programs such as corrections and elementary and secondary education are taking a...