Higher
Education
Partnership
Volume 1 Issue 4
July 31, 1997
In support of and working together with
Alabama A & M Univ
Alabama State Univ
Univ of Alabama
Univ of Ala at Bham
Univ of Ala at Huntsville
Auburn Univ
Auburn Univ at Mtgy
Jacksonville State Univ
Univ.of Montevallo
Univ of North Alabama
Univ of South Alabama
Troy State Univ
Troy State Univ Dothan
Troy State Univ Mtgy
Univ of West Alabama
Inside this Issue
Partnership Update |
ACHE Proposal Challenged
"ACHE has fallen victim to politics,
and citizens of the state must realize that the information given to the
Governor is no more than one group's opinion."
Gordon Stone, Executive Director,
Higher Education Partnership
Higher education leaders turned out in full force to speak out against
the Alabama Commission on Higher Education's proposal to cut $102 million
from the state's colleges and universities.
In a Commission meeting that turned into a public hearing, higher education
leaders strongly criticized the numbers in ACHE's proposal. As a result,
the commissioners agreed not to make specific dollar recommendations. Instead,
they decided to send the governor a list of principles to use as a guide
for future discussions on higher education.
The Higher Education Partnership agrees with the criticism and has stated
its opinion through press releases and letters to editors in newspapers
across the state. TV news interviews were also conducted by local stations.
Gordon Stone, Executive Director of the Higher Education Partnership believes
that ACHE has fallen victim to politics and that citizens of the state must
realize that the information given to the governor is no more than one group's
opinion.
The Partnership and higher education leaders
did not agree with all of the principles that are being recommended. For instance, the principle to keep out-of- state enrollment below 25 percent. Dr. William V. Muse, president of Auburn University, summed up the opposition well in his statement in the Auburn Plainsman, "I don't understand why we encourage tourists to come to the state to spend four days, but don't encourage people to come spend four years."
In sharp contradiction to the budget cuts recommended, the commissioners
added a principle status that all institutions should be funded at the Southern
Regional Education Board (SREB) average which would mean an increase in
state funding of over $500 million to higher education. The Partnership
encourages ACHE to stand behind this principle.
As members of the Higher Education Partnership, you are urged to become
a voice for higher education. The time is now to take a stand in support
of higher education. For more information on speaking out against budget
cuts, call the Higher Education Partnership, 334/832-9911.
P. O. Box 761, Montgomery, AL 36101-0761
334-832-9911Fax
334-832-9995