Jackson Free Press

Tuition increases may be imminent in the state, especially if the Legislature does not at least fund state colleges at their current level—but even that would mean they wouldn't be able to meet growing needs. Earlier this month at both State College Board and State Board of Community and Junior Colleges meetings, a primary concern was budget cuts. The Legislative Budget Committee has recommended a 12.4 percent cut to universities and a 16.7 percent cut to community colleges.

"Our legislators are telling us that they are going to do everything they can to find the money," said Pam Smith, chief public affairs officer of the Institutions of Higher Learning, "and we're hopeful that they will."

Mississippi's eight universities currently receive $587 million from the state, and have requested $678 million for fiscal year 2005. Among other things, officials had planned to start bringing faculty salaries in line with the Southeastern average. But the recommended $73 million cut would mean 12.4 percent less than their current level of funding.

College officials know tuition increases may be imminent, but Smith said other alternatives could be explored. Universities might cut back on library hours, decrease computer center hours, or not fill vacant jobs. "They could do some of the same things they're doing now," she said. "We've been under a $150 million cut for the past three years."

Community Colleges received nearly $173 million dollars for fiscal year 2004, but have requested about $218 million dollars for fiscal year 2005. The Legislative Budget Committee has recommended a $29 million cut—16.7 percent less than their current funding, according to Deborah Gilbert, the board's associate executive director. If funds are cut, the boards of each of the 15 colleges will determine their impact.

Total students at state colleges is constantly increasing, at least in part due to the bad economy helping increase attendance at junior colleges, Gilbert said.

In fall 1990, 48,306 students took credit courses. By fall 2000, there were 55,521, more than a 14 percent increase. In 2001, when the state's economy worsened and the Legislature really started struggling for money, community colleges' budgets were cut significantly. By fall 2003, there were 66,657 students enrolled in community and junior colleges—a 20 percent increase in three years. "Even if we get funded at the amount we're funded at now," Gilbert said, "we would still spend less per student because the number of students keeps going up."

Community and junior colleges must also provide work-force training. Only a third of the 156,000 people trained last year could be served if the budget is hit hard, Gilbert said.

The Legislative Budget committee says about $8.2 million of the $12 million work-force budget should be cut. "I'm sure they will do everything they can to keep from raising tuition," Gilbert said. Average tuition at community colleges is $709 a semester, Gilbert said, up from an average $536 in fall 2000.

Like university officials, community college officials want to raise instructors' salaries. About $20 million of the $44 million increase community colleges requested would go to raise pay from an average salary of $41, 540 to $46,339—midway between the salaries of university instructors and teachers who teach K through 12, according to Gilbert.