Did you see this headline recently, “States Raise College Budgets After Years of Deep Cuts”?
Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal was, as they say in the newspaper biz, top –of-the-fold news. And it either got a chuckle or a loud and boisterous “Amen.”
According to the Census Bureau, tax revenue in 47 states rose last year, with collections up an average of 4.5 percent.
Said Julie Bell, the education group director at the National Association of State Legislatures: “It’s going to be a better year for higher education.”
Let’s hope so.
Since the dark days of the 2008 financial crisis, the first cuts often came at the expense of public higher ed. Class sizes went up. Tuition costs rose. Scholarships were cut. Teacher salaries were frozen or reduced. Hiring went into a deep freeze, and fewer people did more things for less money. After all, you can’t make up all the cuts on deferred maintenance. You don’t save that much on paint and plumbing. But you do if you start cutting back on people.
As one who has taught at both the state university and small private college level, I am pleased to see that suddenly happy days are here again for higher ed. As an adjunct, I knew I was in the classroom as much for me as I was for the students. Teaching was a nice way to recharge my batteries by sharing professional knowledge with a new generation.
