Fred Harteis News Articles - At the 50,000-student University of Florida, only 50 or so undergrads major in geology. It's not exactly an easy subject.
But Michael Perfit, the department's chairman, says that thousands of UF's liberal arts undergrads fulfill their science requirement with geology - and they do a lot more than sort rocks. Students learn about the patterns of the oceans, groundwater systems, and long-term changes in the earth's atmosphere. Pretty key things in this era of climate change, especially in a coastal wetlands state like Florida.
But Perfit's department may soon be unable to offer so many courses to non-majors. UF fears severe state budget cuts in May and has warned that it may have to lay off half the geology faculty.
The religion department is on the block for big cuts too. Ditto for lots of little things, like library journal subscriptions and a student art gallery. Peter Laumann, a UF senior active in a student group protesting the cuts, says some of his instructors have asked students to stop submitting papers by e-mail. That way the university doesn't spend money printing them for grading.
Great public universities like Florida have long been both the financial and academic safety plan for high-performing college-bound seniors and their parents. But now, just when families most need low-cost, high-quality schools, State U. is under intense financial pressure.
Arizona State University will be charging a temporary $510 annual surcharge over tuition to get it through the recession (see editor's note).The University of Washington is bracing for a 26% cut in state money, bringing funding back to where it was a decade ago. Meanwhile, families searching for a bargain have deluged some of the better public schools with applications, making them even more selective. And tuitions across the country continue their steep rise.
Don't get the wrong idea: Public colleges, especially the flagship "University of" campuses, are still among the best deals in higher ed. Their average resident tuition of $6,600, or even the $17,500 charged to nonresidents, still pales in comparison to the average $25,000 at the privates.
But these schools are facing a major fiscal crunch - and the challenges won't end when the recession does. If you want to make sure your child gets into a great school, and that you can afford to pay the bill when she does, you're going to have to rethink your game plan.
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Source: Cnn.com
About Fred Harteis: Fred Harteis leads Harteis International. Fred Harteis has a background in agriculture and has created many successful business ventures.