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Show - L Monday, March 1, 1999 The Daily Utah Higher Education Wisconsin Tuition May Increase Jonah Balfour ing it to students and their families." Micklos said Chvala supports a salary increase for faculty, but not when it is funded through tuition. Badger Herald (U. Wisconsin) MADISON, Wis. tuition could increase by 23.5 the next two years if Gov. over percent Tommy Thompson's proposed budget passes in the state legislature, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala said UW-Madis- Friday. "The more than 23 percent increase in tuition that would likely result from the Governor's budget is absolutely unacceptable," said Chvala, a Madison Democrat. "Essentially, this is a huge tax increase on students and their families." According to Chris Micklos, Chvala's press secretary, the estimated 23 percent increase would raise tuition $1,055 over the next two years and was derived from two factors in the governor's budget. UW-Madis- The governor's budget includes a base 9.8 percent increase in tuition over the next two years, Micklos said. But it also includes a proposal giving the UW Board of Regents "increased flexibility," in planning he said. The governor included in his budget a provision to "authorize the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents to expend all revenues received through tuition and fees to provide the board with flexibility similar to other premier state university systems." Micklos said the regents would be able to use this flexibility to fund a requested 5.2 percent increase in faculty salaries, which would result in the 23 percent tuition increase when combined with the already planned tuition hikes. "The governor has included a lot of good things in his budget and we look forward to working with him to make it even better," Chvala said. "But his tuition proposals are a backhanded attempt to shrug off responsibility for "This should be funded by state support for the university," he said. However, Republican leaders said they disagree with Chvala's conclusions. "The Senate Majority Leader's math doesn't make the grade," said Darrin Schmitz, press secretary for Thompson. "His assertions are flat out wrong." Schmitz said Chvala's estimates are false and erroneous. He said he didn't know what the estimates were based on because the governor's budget doesn't include numbers for tuition increases. According to Schmitz, the governor's budget actually increases funding for the UW System. "The governor is increasing student aid by 12 percent over the bienni-um,- " he said. Schmitz also highlighted several parts of the governor's budget that will help fund higher education, including $44 $30 the million for the UW System and million for through UW-Madis- "Madison Initiative." According to a spokesperson for ed Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, Chvala's comments were politically motivated. "Senator Chvala is using scare tactics to defeat a policy he disagrees with," said Steve Baas, communications director for Jensen. Baas said the governor's budget gives UW increased flexibility in its financial decisions. He said Chvala would rather have politicians controlling the university. "This is a fundamental disagreement over management," Baas said. "The speaker believes it is wiser to leave the management of the university to experts rather than Chronicle - 3 State Legislature News & Arizona Regents Look to Modify New Social Security Number Bill Michael Lafleur Arizona Daily Wildcat (U. Arizona) TUCSON, Ariz.-- The Arizona Board of Regents yesterday proposed changes to a legislative bill prohibiting colleges from using student Social Security numbers for identification purposes. While board members said they wanted to ensure students' privacy, they were reluctant to accept the bill's 2001 deadline for implementation. University of Arizona President Peter Likins said the student-drive- n legislation would create a financial hardship for the three Arizona universities. "My strongest concern about this legislation is the time table," Likins said. However, student concerns about administrative stonewalling prompted the bill's 2001 deadline, said Sam Ley-va- s, executive director of the Arizona Students Association. During the meeting, Leyvas took the floor to defend the bill, for which his organization has lobbied. "The board shouldn't oppose students who are trying to protect their rights," Leyvas said after the meeting. "We thought the regents should support the legislation." But Leyvas added that regents and university presidents had "legitimate" points that his organization can agree with provided that something is done to address its concerns. "If you need another year, take another year, but we feel very adamant that the legislation needs a deadline," he said. "It needs to be done." Likins said the UA is already working on a process that would enable students to be identified by methods other than their Social Security numbers. "It's important to realize that we already do what they're requiring we do," Likins said after the meeting, referring to UA software that generates a random student identification number that corresponds to a Social Security number. Another concern aired at the meeting was that the bill's language only provides for student privacy disregarding faculty and staff. of the AriJerrold Hogle, chair-elezona faculties council, said he would like to see those same protections applied to faculty and staff. "The very options that President Likins referred to ought to be available to all," said Hoglc. Likins added that the legislation may constitute a total ban on the use of Social Security numbers, making it ct incompatible with university needs. The university will require the number for certain transactions, such as when dealing with financial records, he said. Leyvas said his organization has confronted Arizona's university administrators in the past about the abuse of student privacy rights and nothing tangible had been done before legislation was proposed. "I think with the universities it's always wait and see," he said. "We brought this to the table nine months ago the only thing that got their attention is there's legislation now." The regents asked their liaison, Tony Seese-Bied- a, to air their concerns to the Legislature. "Rather than just oppose the legislation, the board took into consideration the comments of the presidents and will propose changes," Jewett said. In other business, the regents also opposed an Arizona Senate bill that would modify the current whistle-blowstatute and dictate certain university procedures. laws protect The whistle-blowstate and university employees from er er administrative retaliation if they dis- close wrongdoing. Last year, university presidents reached an agreement with state lawmakers in which they committed to making changes mainly installing independent hearing officers in lieu of legislation. The university presidents said they would like more time to evaluate whether the changes arc working. "We did put in place policies that have fundamentally fulfilled the features they sought," Likins said. "I would like to understand what it is within the policies we've adopted that is unacceptable to the legislature." Northern Arizona University President Clara Lovett said the new legislation was a breach of contract. "If the intent was to violate the agreement that we had last year.. .then we wasted a lot of time," Lovett said. Regents also disagreed with the stipulation that litigants would have to pay half the cost of the hearing officer. "My overarching concern is that this board may need to be more involved with this issue," Jcwctt said. At this point, whistle-blowewho feel wrongfully terminated or denied privileges, such as tenure, can take their case to the university president. If the litigant does not like the president's decision, it can be appealed in a state appellate court. The hearing officer, appointed by the universities this year, is an intermediate step between the presidents and the appellate court. The Senate bill would allow an employee to appeal the officer's decision in a trial court disregarding all previous findings. "Basically what that does is provide a superior court with the power to make a determination on tenure and post-tenureview," Regent President Judy Gignac said after the meeting. rs re 132 keeping the UW competitive by stick NYC Lobbies the State For Increased Funding Doug Letterman Washington Square News (New York U.) NEW YORK, N.Y. NYU made it clear to legislators that it wants the state budget to include more funding for the university's interests at its annual lobbying trip to Albany on Tuesday. About 150 students, faculty, alumni and administrators met in small groups with about 180 assembly members and senators to present the NYU agenda. The university also erected a kiosk in the capitol plaza touting its achievements and its role in the community. NYU was just one of several hundred lobbying groups campaigning for their platforms in Albany on Tuesday. The atmosphere was frenzied as interest groups throughout the state 0 tried to be heard before the is budget approved. lobbyAfter the day of a hosted the reception university ing, in the legislative office building for legislators, lobbyists and alumni. There, President L. Jay Oliva unveiled an assembly resolution honoring the university for its service. "If you're not here speaking with the legislators, then whatever you want for your organization may not improve," said Arnold Goren, retired vice chancellor and professor emeritus of higher education. The university lobbies government officials throughout the year, but the 1999-200- fast-pac- ed Albany trip is its largest effort. Specifically, NYU wants the state legislature to increase funding to the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) that Gov. George Pataki decreased by $133 million in this year's budget proposal. Lobbyists also urged lawmakers to raise the maximum TAP award for undergraduates from $4,125 to $5,000, and raise the award for graduate students, which is now $550, to the undergraduate level. "The funding for TAP has not kept up with inflation, making it more difficult for students to attend classes," said Pamela Rivas, a junior in the Wagner School of Social Work. 0 The governor's budget proposal also level funded direct state aid to universities, or Bundy Aid. Currently, NYU receives about $5 million a year in Bundy Aid, which was designed in 1968 to support five percent of university expenses statewide, but currently supports of one percent. NYU only wants Bundy Aid increased from $44 million to $125 million. A large component of the NYU agenda concerns state programs that will directly affect the university's dental center. Pataki has advocated moving Medicaid patients into managed care programs instead of traditional clinical institutions such as the NYU Dental Center. NYU maintains that this will cause the dental center, which treats 70,000 Medicaid patients each year, to eliminate many of its services to disadvantaged patients. 1999-200- one-ha- lf BREAKING BOUNDARIES Sandra Steingrabber Scientists Wear White and Poets wear Black: Cancer and the Environment from an Ecologist Turned Creative Writer KEYNOTE ADDRESS Monday, March 1 , Dr. Noon Olpin Union Saltair Room Breaking Boundaries: Women's Work Art Exhibit Feb 28 - March 8 Olpin Union Gallery Featured Artists: Rebecca Campbell, Trish Empey, Dayna Kerns, Lenka Konopasek, Allison Perreault, Suzanne Simpson Curator: Lance W. Duffin ART EXHIBIT Reception with the Artists Tuesday, March 2, 4:30 p.m. Opportunities, Challenges, Rewards: Women Exploring Issues of Race, Class Thursday, March 4, Noon Marriott Library Gould Auditorium PANEL DISCUSSION and Gender Panelists: Angela An, KSL Reporter; Maria Stillman Farrington, Director, United Way Community Building; Grace Sawyer Jones, President, College of Eastern Utah; Diana Kirk, Senior Vice Ririe Woodbury Dance Co. President, Zions Bank; Joan Woodbury, Artistic Moderator: Professor Kathryn Stockton mm EVENT, PANEL DISCUSSION 'Night Mother by Marsha Norman March 5, 1 p.m. Utah Museum of Fine Arts Friday, Performances also March 5, 7:30 p.m. and March 6, 2 p.m. THEATER CUTURAL EVENT Four Bitchin' Babes: Out of the Mouth of Babes A musical of everyday life with Sally Fingerett, Megon McDonough, joys and dilemmas Camille West Saturday, March 6, 7 p.m. FILM PRESENTATION Annie Hall journey through the Debi Smith, and Kingsbury Hall Friday, March 5, 8 p.m. Orson Spencer Sunday, March 7, 7:30 p.m. Hall West Institute UNIVERSITY OF UTAH WOMEN'S CHOIR SPONSORS Office of the President; Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President of Health Sciences; Women Studies Program; Women's resource center; ASUU Presenter's Office; Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts and Parks INFORMATION 581 7563 -- All events are free and open to the public. LrLrD |
