How funding problems affect higher education

In his State of the University address NIU President John Peters recognized “societal disinvestment” as NIU’s largest problem.

What President Peters is talking about is a problem he said has existed since his arrival in June of 2000; Illinois’ lack of investment in higher education. In 2000, the state portion of NIU’s budget had decreased to 40 percent. Since 2000, it has fallen to less than 26 percent.

Have Illinois lawmakers forgotten that NIU is a state university? Pay attention to the “state” part. Although some may blame the recession (as it is blamed for every budget cut) as the reason for such a cut in funding, it must be recognized that this will become a cyclical problem.

When state funding to NIU is cut, the university must take it out on the students through an increase in tuition and fees. Students will have to rely on scholarships and grant funding in order to compensate for the raise in their tuition.

Oh, wait, MAP funds have been also cut.

When enrollment decreases, tuition goes up, enrollment goes down again and tuition again goes up. This will be the trend if “higher education is cast as a private benefit instead of an investment we all make in our future” as Peters stated it.

It has already taken two years just to approve the capital bill for Cole Hall and other funds. Thinking about how long it will take to get funding for the entire university, let alone all the other state universities across the state, is simply scary.

President Obama just gave a speech on how important education is to the nation’s future. The inconsistencies between state and federal government continue.

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