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Show frn-Utf -June 1, 19SS Utah legislature limits education funds 5 A . . I - 7 : 'V. 11 4LJO tML : .tr vx-: j-" "It has taken a century for Utah to build up its educational system to what it is," said Robert DeBocr, WSC vice president for public relations. "It was encouraging to see that the legislature wasn't going to let the system go down the drain." "There just wasn't much money to be appropriated for any cause," said DeBoer. Although the effects from this relatively small increase will be negative, DeBoer said he was encouraged by the outcome of the session. "It was obvious our lobbying efforts had paid off," he said. "It was encouraging to me that legislators put forth the effort to give education what they did," DeBoer said. At the end of the 1988 legislative session, education was given a $2 million dollar increase over last year's budget. Part of this money came from a tuition increase of eight percent for four-year schools and six percent for two-year institutions. For WSC, this meant about $928,000 in total budget increases. About $700,000 of this amount is represented by the increase in tuition rates students will experience next year. About $200,000 is represented by appropriated state money, and $25,000 will be appropriated from mineral lc? money. According to WSC President Stephen D. Nadauld, over half of this money, $537,500, will be used for mandated costs such as increased health and dental costs and state retirement. One-fifth of the growth in studentbody at the college will be funded at about $244,000. The legislature also earmarked about $146,500 for acquisition of library materials for the college. This leaves no room for the cost of inflation. will continue to mount as the result of fewer and fewer dollars. "You just can't place a value on educated individuals," said DeBocr. "There is no way to know what the state is out if they don't spend the money to educate them properly." With a $25 million budget, a two percent increase in inflation could mean an additional $125,000 in expenses. Thanks to some careful management by the college and some cooperation by state legislators, this shortfall in funds will be padded, by the $250,000 WSC saved in fuel and power costs last year, said DeBocr. Because this is a line item, money appropriatged in this area, as a general rule, must stay there. During the legislative session, Nadauld convinced legislators to allow the college to use the money for other critical needs. The money was tagged for the college's nursing and technology programs with some provisions made for Nadauld to use some funds where he sees fit. DeBoer said that while this budget will mean some constraints for Weber such as not filling empty positions and other cutbacks across campus, it won't be extremely difficult for the college to deal with this year. The fear, he said, is that the situation will continue in the future. It this happens, problems x DeBoer said he doesn't believe Utah legislators want to see the system go down hill. He predicts that more funds will be coming in the future. "We can't afford to not fund education," he said. O JaNae Barlow Tight budget lowers morale Decreased funding for higher education has impacted services and academic programs, but the most devastating effect of tight times may be the decline i-; morale. Over the past few years, moneys allotted by the state to higher education have not kept pace with increased costs, and the college has experienced a number of financially-lean years. This has had the net effect of increases in tuition and a decrease in library holdings, the number of class sections offered and in student-related support services. In the future, it will most likely mean limited enrollment, still higher tuitions and even less class offerings. But the real impact of decreased funding seems to be in the attitudes of those who work at the college. "Clearly for most of us, at the very minimum, we wish things would improve. Some of us are discouraged, and some are totally despondent and don't see any opening in the cloud cover," said Stan Greenhalgh, director of personnel. People are getting discouraged, and this is resulting in a higher turnover rate. Close to 1 15 faculty and staff left the college by the end of this academic year. This figure is lower than the average rate for industry and is not much higher than past years, Greenhalgh said. "But the reasons are different." People have always left for better career options. But now more and more are leaving because they sense a gloomy economic future for Utah, and their personal salaries are too low to allow them the option of riding out the financial storm. "Nobody's immune from having to deal with that," Greenhalgh said. But low salaries are only a part of the picture. For the first lime, the college has had to cut academic programs. This affects educational opportunities for students and creates a sense of disease among faculty and staff in relation to job security. In addition, a lack of funds has stopped the growth of most academic programs, and the faculty docs not handle negative growth well, Greenhalgh said. "I don't think everything's great. I have concerns and I think the times are extremely challenging, tut I don't personally believe they are insurmountable. But they will be difficult. We will have an increase in turnover and a dip in morale," he added. Most faculty members are professional enough to not let discouragement affect the classroom, but there is a negative effect on students' education, said Dr. Gene Sessions, chairman of the WSC Faculty Senate. It does affect teaching," said Sessions. "Faculty is less willing to go the extra mile. When faculty members feel the college, community or society at large doesn't appreciate them, they withdraw." The out-of-classroom educational opportunities common at Weber State are what suffer most when the faculty is discouraged, he said. "I've been here 13 years, and I've not seen it this bad. There is a sense that no one cares about what we do, that no one gives respect or support. The attitude is bad." But while things are grim, they're not hopeless. "Weber S tate has as much of a capacity as any organization that I've seen to ride things out," Greenhalgh said. "That's not just a Pollyanna vision. The college has seen tough times before, and there is a lot of resilience here. Many will stick it out." D Craig Nelson . 3. i J M .il . ' A TV. -V V I M - - ' K r -v ' i , w n -.ft t J -Z" ' I rum ,1,. - i, i r ft i.- , o' 1' 4 Is ... wamnJi...., |