Tag Archives: Budgets & Funding

UK: Cash-starved universities will have huge classes, says union

The Guardian: Cash-starved universities will have huge classes, says union

Lecturers claim savage government cuts will close universities and send 14,000 academics to the dole queue

Universities in the UK will be among the most overcrowded in the world within three years if savage government cuts to higher education go ahead, academics warned today.

The lecturers’ union, UCU, said more than £900m of cuts announced last month would fill lecture halls with “some of the biggest class sizes in the world” by 2013.

CA community colleges may offer bachelor’s degrees

Contra Costa Times: Community colleges may offer bachelor’s degrees

With tens of thousands being turned away from state universities, California lawmakers likely will consider granting community colleges the right to offer a limited number of bachelor’s degrees.
The shift, which has occurred in 17 other states in the past decade or so, would represent a major philosophical change in California, where the three state higher-education systems have clearly defined roles.

Parents in California Start to Mobilize Against Tuition Hikes

Los Angeles Time: Parents in California Start to Mobilize Against Tuition Hikes

The budget crisis afflicting California State University could not have come at a worse time for Berenice Vite and Rafael Curiel, whose son Alonso is a sophomore at Cal State Long Beach. As the university was imposing a 32% student fee hike this year, Curiel underwent two shoulder surgeries and lost his job at a medical equipment firm.

AAUP President Says Group’s Former Chief Weighed Courting Hugo Chávez for Funds

The Chronicle: AAUP President Says Group’s Former Chief Weighed Courting Hugo Chávez for Funds

A former top official of the American Association of University Professors considered asking Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chávez, to finance the purchase of a new headquarters for the organization, the AAUP’s current president, Cary Nelson, says in a new book scheduled for release early next year.

But the former AAUP administrator that Mr. Nelson says offered up the idea — Roger Bowen, who served as general secretary of the organization from July 2004 through June 2007 — today called the account in Mr. Nelson’s book “fanciful” and asserted he has no recollection of suggesting the group ask Mr. Chávez for money.

C.W. Post faculty union rallies over cuts

Newsday: C.W. Post faculty union rallies over cuts

The faculty union president at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University suggested Tuesday that financial mismanagement has led to cuts in student services and educational offerings – allegations strongly denied by the campus provost – and layoffs among support staff, which the provost called minimal.

The Rise of the No-Show

The Chronicle: The Rise of the No-Show

At a conference I recently attended, a sizeable wave of paper presenters failed to attend. The papers were submitted back in February, but travel funds had since vanished and, in some cases, wages had been cut and the presenters could not afford to pay for the airfare/hotel out of their pockets. In the past, a no-show was the kiss of death toward future presentations, but I had the definite sense that most of the attendees felt genuine empathy toward the folks who were unable to attend.

UK: University presses ‘struggling’ in recession

Bookseller.com: University presses ‘struggling’ in recession

A number of the UK’s university presses are “struggling” to keep their heads above water in the face of the recession and pressure from rising student fees.

There is a move to create a Europe-wide association for university presses, with one of its main aims to support publishers, but it was revealed this week that Middlesex University Press will close by the end of the year.

UC Berkeley faculty wants sports subsidies stopped

AP: UC Berkeley faculty wants sports subsidies stopped

BERKELEY, Calif. — Faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, are crying foul about the millions of dollars in subsidies directed to the school’s athletic department.
The campus Academic Senate on Thursday voted 91-68 in favor of a nonbinding resolution calling for an end to campus support of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and requiring a plan for paying back loans already made.

CALL: March 4 Strike and Day of Action To Defend Public Education

On October 24 more than 800 students, teachers, and other workers met to plan how to advance the struggle to defend and transform public education in California and beyond.

The 10/24 conference endorsed the U of California and California State U strike and mobilization on Nov. 17th– 20th and decided to call for statewide solidarity actions on these days.

In addition, Conference participants also called for a “Strike and Day of Action that is inclusive of all different tactics, including: walkouts, rallies, march to Sacramento, teach ins, occupations, and all other forms of protests chosen by schools and organizations.”

CALL: March 4 Strike and Day of Action To Defend Public Education

On October 24, 2009 more than 800 students, workers, and teachers converged at UC Berkeley at the Mobilizing Conference to Save Public Education. This massive meeting brought together representatives from over 100 different schools, unions, and organizations from all across California and from all sectors of public education – Pre K-12, Adult Education, CC, CSU and UC – to “decide on a statewide action plan capable of winning this struggle, which will define the future of public education in this state, particularly for the working class and communities of color.”

After hours of open collective discussion, the conference democratically voted, as its principal decision, to call for a statewide Strike and Day of Action on March 4, 2010. The conference decided that all schools, unions and organizations are free to choose their specific demands and tactics – such as strikes, walkouts, march to Sacramento, rallies, occupations, sit-ins, teach-ins, etc. – for March 4, as well as the duration of such actions.
We refuse to let those in power continue to pit us against each other. If we unite, we have the power to shut down business-as-usual and to force those in power to grant our demands. Building a powerful movement to defend public education will, in turn, advance the struggle in defense of all public-sector workers and services.

We call on all students, workers, teachers, parents, and their organizations across the state to endorse this call and massively mobilize and organize for the Strike and Day of Action on March 4.

Let’s make this an historic turning point in the struggle against the cuts, layoffs, fee hikes, and educational segregation in California.

To endorse this call and to receive more information, please contact march4strikeanddayofaction@gmail.com and consult www.savecapubliceducation.org

Michigan State U. May Cut at Least 9 Academic Departments

The Chronicle: Michigan State U. May Cut at Least 9 Academic Departments

Michigan State University has proposed a series of program cuts to cope with declining state support, according to reports in the Lansing State Journal and The State News. The proposed cuts include closing at least nine departments and more than a dozen degree programs, among them the classics, veterinary technology, retailing, and American studies.

The state’s 2009-10 budget, signed on Friday, provides no money for the merit-based Michigan Promise Scholarship but retains $31.7-million in need-based grants for students at private colleges, the Detroit Free Press reported. The budget also spares Michigan State’s agricultural extension services.

When Is a Suspension Not a Suspension?

Inside Higher Ed: When Is a Suspension Not a Suspension?

Officials at Southwestern College, a community college outside San Diego, moved Friday to explain why three faculty members have been barred from teaching or stepping foot on the campus for more than a week, but the answers aren’t quelling faculty anger.

The college has been facing scrutiny over its action against four professors (one of whom was soon permitted to resume teaching) the day after a student-organized campus protest against budget cuts, and about how the administration has responded to them. While the college didn’t explain why it barred the professors — including the president of the faculty union — from the campus, officials denied that the move had anything to do with the protest.

Nebraska: Metro CC sues five other colleges

The Omaha World: Metro will sue other com. colleges

Metropolitan Community College will sue Nebraska’s five other community colleges, trying to wrest away millions of state aid dollars that Metro leaders say rightfully belong to their school. The planned lawsuit, authorized Tuesday night by Metro’s board, will be filed in Lancaster County Court “in the very near future,” Metro laywer Bob Canella said.

California’s Crisis of Higher Education

IndyMeida: California’s Crisis of Higher Education

On October 21, 2009 – hundreds of students at Fresno State walked out of their classrooms and held a rally at the university’s Peace Garden to protest the massive cuts to higher education and the California State University system. Students voiced their concerns with the unprecedented tuition increases, canceled classes, furloughed faculty and staff, and reduced enrollment opportunities. They then took their message to the sidewalks and streets of the campus calling out to students, faculty, and staff to take a stand and join the walk out. Many did. By the time the march reached Shaw and Cedar Avenues, all four street corners were overflowing with students speaking out on behalf of themselves and the future of higher education in the state. “I hope that this walkout will increase community awareness that the budget cuts to the CSU are delaying our graduations, forcing would-be students out, and creating a precedent that “its ok” to cut education when really funding education gives back in more ways than one,” explained Whitney Thompson, a women’s studies major at Fresno State and a spokesperson for Students for Quality Education, the organization spearheading the event. At the end of the march, the students presented Dr. Welty with a list of demands, which Welty indicated he would address at a later meeting.

More Anger After College Statement on Suspension of 4 Profs

Inside Higher Ed: More Anger After College Statement on Suspension of 4 Profs

Southwestern College, a community college outside San Diego, has been under fire since last week’s suspension of four faculty members, following a protest that criticized the administration. With professors saying that they are being punished for expressing their views, the college late Monday issued a new statement — but that statement (while noting that one suspension has been lifted) only further angered the professors. The statement says: “Four faculty members were placed on paid administrative leave on Thursday, October 22, 2009, and three faculty members remain on paid administrative leave at this time, pending the outcome of the investigation. Please understand that no formal charges or allegations have been made against any College faculty member or employee at this time. The student rally held between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. on October 22, 2009, is not the focus of the investigation. The college is investigating safety and security issues that arose after the approved organized student rally. The college respects, values and is committed to lawful free expression and the student rally provided an opportunity for our students to voice their concerns and to underscore the challenges that all community college students, and community colleges, are experiencing. The college is committed to maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff, which is the focus of the investigation.”

College officials did not respond to requests for clarifications on the statement. But Philip Lopez, an English professor who is president of the faculty union, said that the statement only added to the questions about the incident. If the college is now on record as saying that there are no charges or allegations, why is it appropriate to remove faculty members from their classes and ban them from campus, he asked. Lopez said this action violates basic due process rights. “If there are no charges, why were we placed on leave?,” he asked. “Rumor? Reputation? Union-busting? Poor personal hygiene?”

Can Free Speech Be Furloughed?

Inside Higher Ed: Can Free Speech Be Furloughed?

On Thursday, several hundred students at Southwestern College, a community college outside of San Diego, held a peaceful protest over budget cuts that are leading to the cancellation of more than 400 additional course sections next semester. On Friday, the students got a sign that someone was paying attention to the protest, but they didn’t get the response they wanted: Four faculty members were immediately suspended and barred from the campus or using the campus e-mail system.

Profs fear deep cuts at cash-poor U of Manitoba

Winnipeg Free Press: Profs fear deep cuts at cash-poor U of M
President hires consultants to find savings

University of Manitoba professors are nervously watching the direction president David Barnard is taking the campus as funding falls far short of needs — and they fear he may be ‘picking winners’ while leaving many departments and faculties to face cuts.

Cal State LA holds teach-in about cuts

PCC Courier: Cal State LA holds teach-in about cuts

The California Faculty Association and the Students for Social Justice/No Cuts Coalition presented a teach-in for California college students regarding recent budget cuts and enrollment fee increases Tuesday at Cal State LA.

Oxford University’s global standing at risk

The Guardian: Oxford University’s global standing at risk
Outgoing vice-chancellor says university budgeting to make loss for fourth year

Oxford University faces “grave” risks and needs more than £1bn investment in the next decade to bring its “unfit for purpose” facilities up to a world-class standard, the institution’s outgoing vice-chancellor warned today.

India’s Ivy League Protests Lack of Public Funding

Wall Street Journal: India’s Ivy League Protests Lack of Public Funding

Faculty of the Indian Institutes of Technology Stages a Hunger Strike to Demand Higher Pay as Schools Face Staffing Shortage

NEW DELHI — The Indian Institutes of Technology, the subcontinent’s Ivy League, are in danger of losing their prestige, professors and alumni contend, because of faculty salaries starting as low as $6,000 a year.

When Tenured Professors Are Laid Off, What Recourse?

The Chronicle: When Tenured Professors Are Laid Off, What Recourse?
At Southern Mississippi, fights against program cuts are hampered by the lack of a formal process, professors find

If the University of Southern Mississippi seeks to fire a tenured faculty member for cause—that is, for allegedly sleeping with a student or some other malfeasance—that faculty member has recourse to a long sequence of hearings and appeals, spelled out in 48 paragraphs in the faculty handbook.