Higher education officials predict 9,210 new college students for the 1992-93 school year. The Joint Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee recommended Wednesday a budget that would pay for 60 percent of that enrollment increase, or 5,497 full-time students.
That amount, however, will pay for few new students. The state's nine colleges and universities were swamped by a flood of students last fall, including 5,004 full-time students who were unexpected and unfunded by the current budget. So, the subcommittee's request essentially pays for the students already attending school this year and only 493 new students next fall - or 3,713 students short of the expected enrollment.The enrollment proposal is contained in the subcommittee's request, which will be presented to the powerful Executive Appropriations Committee Thursday. The committee prepares the budget that goes to the Legislature for a vote.
The higher-education proposal will be for $21.7 million in state tax funds. That amount, however, includes the 2 percent base adjustment that takes $6.4 million out of higher education's current base budget and has the colleges and universities reallocate it to other needs next year. In reality, the subcommittee's recommendation, which excludes faculty and staff compensation at this point, would be for $15.3 million in new tax funds.
The subcommittee also agreed to propose legislative intent language that says the future Legislatures need to fully fund enrollment to preserve quality. However, the proposal directs the state Board of Regents to develop enrollment strategies "designed to provide open access to the community colleges while establishing appropriate enrollment limits at the universities."