FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2010
BOARD RESPONDS TO CONSENSUS REVENUE ESTIMATE

New Revenue Needed to Avoid Additional Devastating Cuts

(PITTSBURG) – Today Board of Regents’ Chair Jill Docking, of Wichita, issued the following statement regarding the April Consensus Revenue Estimate:

“Today’s estimate confirms what we’ve known for some time, that new revenue is needed in order to avoid additional budget reductions which would devastate a system already crippled by cuts.”

“The state’s public universities, community colleges, and technical colleges have absorbed a 13% cut over the past year. The state’s higher education system now sits at Fiscal Year 2006 funding levels, which means we’re now at the bare minimum in terms of the funding levels required to retain eligibility for the receipt of federal stimulus dollars. Any additional cuts whatsoever will jeopardize the millions of dollars in vitally important federal funding that has served as a life-preserver for our state’s higher education system.”

“At a time when enrollments continue to increase statewide, over 1,000 employees and positions have been laid off, held vacant, or eliminated, and over 450 academic programs and classes have been eliminated, producing increased class sizes and making it less likely students will be able to graduate on time. Tuition has increased, institutions are now turning away qualified Kansans from high demand programs, and some institutions are even considering enrollment caps. It will take the next decade for the state’s higher education system to fully recover from the recent budget cuts.”

“When the Regents toured Kansas last fall, it was clear that business leaders recognize that a healthy Regents system – equipped to meet the state’s demand for a well-trained work force – is essential in order for local businesses to reach their full potential and for the Kansas economy to thrive. Just last month, local chambers of commerce from across the state joined together in their support of higher education and asked the Governor and the Legislature to explore ‘rational state revenue enhancements’ rather than solely relying upon additional cuts to balance the state’s budget. It’s clear that Kansans value the availability of quality higher education, the skilled workers our system produces, and understand that higher education is an engine for economic growth. The state should invest in its higher education system in order to lay the foundation for its future economic recovery. Now is the time to invest in the future of Kansas.”

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About the Kansas Board of Regents:

The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is the governing board of the state’s six universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (seven public universities, nineteen community colleges, and six technical colleges). In addition, the Board administers the state’s student financial aid, adult education, GED, and career and technical education programs. The Board also authorizes private proprietary schools and out- of-state institutions to operate in Kansas, and administers the Kan-ed network, a statewide network that provides broadband Internet access and distance learning capabilities for schools, hospitals, and libraries.

For more information, contact Kip Peterson at (785) 296-3421 or at kpeterson@ksbor.org.