Rally for Higher Education

I wish I was with my fellow students today rallying to lower tuition of higher education.

Lower tuition costs are necessary to increase graduation rates. I had to transfer from Bradley University as there was no way my family could afford two students in private schools. Even today, colleges across the state are raising tuition costs in big margins. I'm lucky that NKU is still relatively cheap compared to others. However, with a state budget in place with more funding for colleges around the state, NKU will pick up the tab for the Washington Center internship program--meaning all I would pay for is living expenses as souvenirs.

That’s because three years’ worth of state funding cuts have meant big tuition hikes for Kentucky’s public universities. UK and Western have announced double-digit increases for next fall; the other five are expected to follow during the next few months.

The tone was more positive than last year, when students lined the tunnel between the Capitol and the annex to accost lawmakers over cuts.

The response was different this year because Gov. Ernie Fletcher proposed some base funding in his budget and even more if a tax reform plan passes, said Rachel Watts, UK’s student government president and one of the organizers of today’s event.

"But the situation is still very critical," she said. "We’re here to talk about what the state expects of us, to set up realistic expectations between the state and the universities."[...]

Statistics back up the students. The Council on Postsecondary Education recently showed that from 1999 to 2005, state funding had declined from 69 percent to 56 percent. Tuition and fees have picked up the difference.

House Democrats say they are trying to put more money into higher education than was in the governor’s budget, but significant changes depend on tax reform.[...]

The half-hour rally ended on a high note: Loud chanting of "Invest in us!" before the students disbanded for a reception at Treasurer Jonathan Miller’s office.

I wish I was there rallying for the same cause.

LINK

When Gov. Fletcher was here, he mentioned raising the cigarette tax. I know Republicans and they are against raising taxes.