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Channel 12
Alexandra Renslo reporting
http://www.twelve.tv/news/newsitem.aspx?newsid=324&newsitemid=15287
February 16, 2011
North Hennepin Community College students joined several hundred other students from state colleges and universities on the steps of the Capitol Wednesday to rally against tuition increases.
One day after Governor Dayton proposed a state budget that reduces funding to Minnesota's public colleges and universities by 6 percent, students fear any deeper cuts will mean double digit tuition increases.
"It could be a 12 percent increase for students in the next two years, and that's overwhelming," said Wendy Hanson, student senate president at North Hennepin Community College.
Hanson, who will finish up her two-year degree in May, said she brought a group of North Hennepin students to St. Paul to take part in the rally because she is worried about the state's budget crunch being balanced on the backs of students.
"If we can just keep our faces in front of our senators and legislators, they can understand, this [education] is an investment," said Hanson.
According to the Minnesota State College Student Association, tuition and fees at Minnesota's public two-year colleges has nearly doubled over the last decade, making it the most expensive in the Midwest. From 2001 to 2010, a full year's tuition and fees rose from $2,759 in 2001-2002 to $4,984 during the 2010-2011 school year.
State Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, is a member of the Senate's Higher Education Committee. He believes the 6 percent reduction in funding is fair given the state's $6.2 billion deficit.
"I would like to see tuition remain at its current levels, but I would not support a cap [on tuition]," said Latz.
Latz said he believes a tuition cap is unrealistic and not practical, and that it could ultimately hurt the overall quality of education in the state because it could force colleges and universities to cut programs, cut class sections, and layoff staff.
"If the University declines in quality, if they can't get their class sections, that's going to hurt their job prospects, and the quality of their diploma down the road," said Latz.
Governor Dayton's proposal to cut college funding by six percent relies heavily on tax increases for the state's wealthiest individuals.
State colleges will likely face deeper cuts, if an all–cuts budget is proposed at the legislature. |