Tuition hikes, budget cuts could be on the way at the University of Minnesota
Budget cuts and tuition hikes could happen at U of M
Tuition raises and budget cuts could be on the way at the University of Minnesota. FOX 9's Maury Glover has the latest.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Board of Regents at the University of Minnesota (U of M) held a public forum on Monday afternoon to hear from students, faculty and staff.
‘Please reject this budget’
What we know:
The U of M's Board of Regents got an earful about the proposed budget for the coming school year.
"I understand the need to balance the budget. I understand the need to reduce scope. I really do, but I urge you to slow down," said Patrick Warfield, Director of the U of M's School Of Music.
‘There is nothing strategic about it’
The backstory:
University President Rebecca Cunningham is proposing a 6.5% tuition increase for students at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities and Rochester campuses, as well as 7% cuts to academic programs across the board.
University officials say the moves are necessary because of reductions in federal research funding and state funding not keeping up with inflation.
"The goal is to be able to invest in our workforce and invest in our crumbling infrastructure. We wish there were other options. We wish we had other choices," said Gregg Goldman, the U of M's Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations.
‘Uniquely challenging time’
What they're saying:
During an hour-long public forum on the budget, several speakers said the programming cuts would have a disproportionate impact on smaller departments and would result in layoffs for hundreds of non-tenured instructors.
"It's a slash and burn of our instructional programs in much the same manner that Elon Musk took a chainsaw through the federal government," said Nora Lovesay, a staff member in the U of M's American Indian Studies Department.
While others said such a big tuition hike would unfairly burden students and their families with larger amounts of debt.
"We should not be in effect asking students to pay more for less, which is what this budget is doing," said Warfield.
"I ask you to reconsider these increases along with the associated reallocations that will wall off opportunities for students like myself," said student Henry Rosato.
The Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget next week.