2008 Woodie Awards
Budget increase reined in for FY08
Emily Reynolds, Collegian Correspondent
Issue date: 9/8/08 Section: News
Normally, a budget increase for higher education is seen by most who work in the field as something that is entirely positive. This year, however, the budget increase for Massachusetts higher education is met with objection from some, as it is less of an increase in funds than anticipated.
The University of Massachusetts five-campus system is faced with a 4.9 percent increase in the budget for this fiscal year, bringing it up to $492.2 million. The increase however, is $4.1 million less than legislators had proposed, due to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's veto of additional funds made to state-funded schools at the end of July.
Patrick's veto was met with question by some, since the governor has publicly proposed making community colleges free to students in the future.
"The governor proposed a small increase and the legislature put in more money, but then Patrick vetoed the increase," explained Max Page, an associate professor and president of the Massachusetts Society of Professors.
Other local colleges also received funding increases. Holyoke Community College saw an increase of 2.4 percent in its budget, while Greenfield Community College received a 1.2 percent increase. Westfield State College had a budget increase of 2.2 percent.
Although the UMass system received less money than hoped for, many were grateful for the increase that has been given.
"We will be able to make progress in major areas because of the increase in the budget," said Robert Connolly, a spokesman for the UMass president's office.
Those areas include campus construction and renovation, funding for research and an increase in faculty.
According to some students, such as UMass senior and finance and operations management and mathematics double major Camilla Nurkhanov, who had friends who left the University due to rising costs, allocating funds toward these areas may not be the best use of the state's money.
"They could put the money into tuition, which they raised," she said.
The University of Massachusetts five-campus system is faced with a 4.9 percent increase in the budget for this fiscal year, bringing it up to $492.2 million. The increase however, is $4.1 million less than legislators had proposed, due to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's veto of additional funds made to state-funded schools at the end of July.
Patrick's veto was met with question by some, since the governor has publicly proposed making community colleges free to students in the future.
"The governor proposed a small increase and the legislature put in more money, but then Patrick vetoed the increase," explained Max Page, an associate professor and president of the Massachusetts Society of Professors.
Other local colleges also received funding increases. Holyoke Community College saw an increase of 2.4 percent in its budget, while Greenfield Community College received a 1.2 percent increase. Westfield State College had a budget increase of 2.2 percent.
Although the UMass system received less money than hoped for, many were grateful for the increase that has been given.
"We will be able to make progress in major areas because of the increase in the budget," said Robert Connolly, a spokesman for the UMass president's office.
Those areas include campus construction and renovation, funding for research and an increase in faculty.
According to some students, such as UMass senior and finance and operations management and mathematics double major Camilla Nurkhanov, who had friends who left the University due to rising costs, allocating funds toward these areas may not be the best use of the state's money.
"They could put the money into tuition, which they raised," she said.
Be the first to comment on this story