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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Non-Public Funding

In a meeting I had with Governor Sandoval, a man for whom I have great respect, we discussed the eventual non-public funding of public universities.  He pointed out that his own alma mater, Ohio State University is making plans to receive no funding at all from the State of Ohio.  How do you think this pulling of public support for public universities will affect UNLV and UNR?


3 comments:

  1. Mr. Rogers, when speaking of public education in higher education, we must remember the big picture. Public education provides an oppotunity for those less fortunate to pursue a college degree, and is state supported. However, I agree 100% that degree programs that are not self sufficient should be eliminated. We saw the reaction last legislative session from campus folks when funding streams were threatened. The problem lies in the fact that we have diluted the achievement in working hard to obtain a university degree, since we have opened up the doors to so many students to so many worthless degree programs. Fifty years ago, having a high school diploma was enough to get by in life. Twenty years ago having a degree meant you were going to be successful. Today, having a degree is required to enter the private sector. Will there be a point in time when we need a PhD to enter the job market?

    This highlights the problem with the left's agenda, of affording everyone with the opportunity to get a degree, with watered down and meaningless liberal arts programs. UNLVs graduation rate is one of the lowest in the western states. When students have to pay more for their education, they will "buy in". But, what does UNLV excel at? Why should serious students choose UNLV? Does it offer world leading programs in Hotel Management or Gaming Tech?

    So we have to balance both sides of the argument...providing those less fortunate with an opportunity to get a degree, with the need to keep the legitimacy of the degree. We don't want higher education to become another convoluted, underachieving, money eating machine, like CCSD.

    That said, while Gov. Sandoval is probably the most intelligent and savvy governor this state has seen in some time. But, he has demonstrated that he prioritizes his political agenda of saving state money over the human element of providing services to people. He has cut state employee salaries to the bone, doubled health care costs, and increased retirement contributions. Do you know that many state employees hired in the last 4 years started out on the bottom of a frozen pay scale, and will not get a step increase until at least 2015? These are not living wages for families, especially for those who can't free themselves of the expensive state health care plan.

    All this while city/county employees in Washoe and Clark make tens of thousands more for the same work. Go down to the welfare offices on Belrose or Flamingo, and ask how many state employees are receiving assistance. Ask the governor why he keeps 65% of state jobs in Carson/Reno, when the city of Henderson has a bigger population than both! Find out what the foreclosure rate was in Carson when people were getting kicked out of their homes in Vegas left and right. God forbid he actually move positions "down south" to keep people employed here. Is there ever a wait at the Carson DMV?

    The state of Illinois has a program to give military veterans 120 free credits at any state sponsored school. Nevada does not. Clark county city/county employees get reimbursement in some union contracts to attend college, state employees get nothing. Why do city/county employees get to collectively bargain, and state employees do not?

    The state of Ohio is leaps and bounds ahead of NV in terms of quality of life. I remind the governor of that when he tries to make comparisons.

    So while agree that we need to bring "balance" to the problem of public funding for state schools, Mr. Sandoval is not the person to do it. He mistakenly believes the State is IBM, and needs to be ran like a corporation, when it is not. It needs to fiscally responsible, but not at the cost of our families.



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  2. Public education provides an oppotunity for those less fortunate to pursue a college degree, and is state supported. But, I agree 100% that degree programs that are not self sufficient should be eliminated. We saw the reaction last session from campus folks when funding streams were threatened. The problem is that we have diluted the achievement to obtain a university degree, since we have opened up the doors to so many students to so many worthless degree programs. 50 years ago, having a high school diploma was enough to get by in life. 20 years ago having a degree meant you were going to be successful. Today, having a degree is required to enter the private sector. Will there be a point in time when we need a PhD to enter the job market?

    This highlights the problem with the left's agenda, of affording everyone with the opportunity to get a degree, with watered down and meaningless liberal arts programs. UNLVs graduation rate is one of the lowest in the western states. When students have to pay more for their education, they will "buy in". But, what does UNLV excel at? Why should serious students choose UNLV? Does it offer world leading programs in Hotel Management or Gaming Tech?

    So we have to balance both sides of the argument...providing those less fortunate with an opportunity to get a degree, with the need to keep the legitimacy of the degree, and costs to the State down. We don't want higher education to become another convoluted, underachieving, money eating machine, like CCSD.

    That said, while Gov. Sandoval is probably the most intelligent and savvy governor this state has seen in some time. But, he has demonstrated that he prioritizes his political agenda of saving state money over the human element of providing services to people. He has cut state employee salaries to the bone, doubled health care costs, and increased retirement contributions. Do you know that many state employees hired in the last 4 years started out on the bottom of a frozen pay scale, and will not get a step increase until at least 2015? These are not living wages for families,

    He also decided to freeze all state budgets until at least 2015, and hide department budget requests from the Legislature. Most of those requests for increases are for normal wear and tear items, like cars and software, to replace aging and outdated equipment, which people need to do their jobs. So he's trying to avoid putting himself in the predicament of having to raise taxes...smooth move. All the while vehicles break down and computers crash...,and no money to fix/replace them because the budgets are, and will be, frozen. Well done Mr. Sandoval! Is this what you want NSHE to be?

    All this while city/county employees in Washoe and Clark make tens of thousands more for the same work. Go down to the welfare offices on Belrose or Flamingo, and ask how many state employees are receiving assistance. Ask the governor why he keeps 65% of state jobs in Carson/Reno, when the city of Henderson has a bigger population than both! Find out what the foreclosure rate was in Carson when people were getting kicked out of their homes in Vegas left and right.

    The state of IL has a program to give military veterans 120 free credits at any state sponsored school. Nevada does not. Clark county city/county employees get reimbursement in some union contracts to attend college, state employees get nothing. Why do city/county employees get to collectively bargain, and state employees do not?

    The state of Ohio is leaps and bounds ahead of NV in terms of quality of life. I remind the governor of that when he tries to make comparisons.

    So while agree that we need to bring "balance" to the problem of public funding for state schools, Mr. Sandoval is not the person to do it. He mistakenly believes the State is IBM, and needs to be ran like a corporation, when it is not. It needs to fiscally responsible, but it's clear Sandoval has his needs ahead of this State.

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  3. The private sector taxpayer is hurting and it is certain that the well in running dry. Like any private enterprise UNLV & UNR will have to sink or swim on their own.

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