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By Brandi Grissom
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
University chancellors ask lawmakers for more money
Tuition increases at Texas public universities could continue if lawmakers don't give schools more money, chancellors told senators Monday.
But lawmakers deciding how much money Texas universities will get first want to know how statewide tuition increases over the past two years have affected enrollment.
" Texas and greatness is tied together with higher education," Sen. Todd Staples, R-Palestine, told chancellors of six public university systems testifying before a Senate higher education committee Monday.
Making sure higher education is available to Texas students from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds was the primary concern for senators. They also wanted to know how universities are working with high schools and community colleges throughout the state to encourage more students to continue their education.
In 2003, the Legislature gave regents the authority to set tuition at public universities. Facing a $10 billion budget shortfall, lawmakers simultaneously slashed state funding for higher education by $60 million.
Since then, in-state tuition at Texas universities has increased an average of 16 percent statewide. Students at the University of Texas at Austin experienced the largest increase, 37 percent. The average price for a full-time course load increased from $4,188 per semester in fall 2003 to $5,735 in fall 2004.
The state's other flagship school, Texas A&M University , increased tuition about 18 percent from $5,034 per semester for a full-time student to $5,948.
At Texas Tech University , tuition rose 23 percent, from $4,745 to $5,848 per semester.
Chancellors told the lawmakers there was no way to tell yet the direct impact of increased tuition on student attendance, but they cited growing enrollment rates as a positive indicator.
"Our schools have been moderate in their increases," said Texas State University System Chancellor Charles Mathews. "And I did not see a decline in enrollment."
That growth, though, has created its own problems, especially at the state's largest institutions.
Despite tuition increases, Texas A&M Chancellor Bob McTeer said because of enrollment growth and the small amount of funding from the state from 2004 to 2005, the school has seen a 3.4-percent decrease in money per student. University of Texas System Chancellor Mark Yudof said funding at the system's nine schools decreased an average of more than 12 percent per student.
"We can't close the gaps and add .6 million students over the next decade by doing it through cost savings," Yudof said.
Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, who chairs the Senate higher education committee, asked each of the chancellors what their schools are doing to make the transition from high school to higher education seamless.
Most reported efforts to make high school students and their families more aware of funding options and dual-enrollment programs. Some also noted initiatives to make it easier for students to transfer course credit from community colleges to universities.
Chancellors emphasized, though, that while adding more students to Texas ' higher education system is important for the state, it is an expensive endeavor.
"Most of my testimony that I'm filing is a plea for more money, obviously," McTeer said. "That's what this is all about ultimately."