Good piece by Andra Stefanoni in the Joplin Globe yesterday describing the budget showdown we are heading into next week and the potential impact on PSU and Kansas higher education.
Simply put, the cuts proposed by House leadership would be devastating to our momentum and challenge our ability to fulfill our important mission. Please help us stop these proposed cuts.
Yesterday, Governor Sam Brownback was on the PSU campus as part of his statewide tour in support of level and stable funding to higher education. The Governor first met with campus leadership to discuss his commitment to higher education, its essential role in growing the Kansas economy, as well as the concerns of the campus community. He was then given the opportunity to tour our nursing simulation lab where PSU is training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
The Governor ended his visit to PSU with a press conference alongside Pres. Steve Scott, PSU student body president Taylor Gravett, and Regent Ed McKechnie, reiterating his support for the vital role of PSU and higher education. You can watch the full press conference here.
For a recap of the Governor’s visit to the PSU campus, check out this video from the wonderful folks at PSU Marketing and Communication click here.
You can also read about the Governor’s visit in today’s Morning Sun.
As the Governor reiterated yesterday, higher education is essential to the growth of the Kansas economy and our momentum is too great to be set back by cuts. Please help us support higher education and oppose the destructive cuts proposed by the Kansas House.
Congratulations to newly elected Commissioners Monica Murnan and Chuck Munsell and to Commissioner Michael Gray on his reelection. We’re excited to continue working together to move our community forward.
A reminder that today is election day in Kansas. There are many open positions on school boards and city commissions throughout the state.
In Crawford County, there are five school districts with open board positions, and nine cities that will elect commissioners.
For your convenience, here is a link to the positions that will be voted upon today in Crawford County.
http://www.crawfordcountykansas.org/cco.nsf/str/Election/$file/Positions%20Up%20for%20Election.pdf
We are also including a link to help you locate your polling place. Polling places will close at 7 p.m.
https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/
An engaged community is a strong community. Please remember to vote.
Last week both the House and Senate passed budget bills that include cuts to higher education. The House budget bill (Sub HB2231), which passed out of the chamber on a vote of 68-55, reduces funding to higher education by more than $50 million in FY14. In addition to a 4% across the board cut to all institutions the House budget bill includes universities in “global” state agency cuts, which would total more than $20 million. While Regent institutions were exempted via floor amendment from the salary and wage cap provision an $18.1 million salary adjustment remained in the bill. The total revenue reductions to PSU in the House bill would be as much as $2.8 million or more than 8%.
The Senate budget bill (S Sub for HB2143) passed on a 24-16 vote. The Senate bill incudes a 2% across the board cut to higher education ($15.2 million). The Senate bill does not include any of the “global” state agency cuts included in the House budget bill. The total reduction for PSU in the Senate bill is $700,000.
Over the past five years, higher education funding has been reduced by more than 15% while statewide enrollments have grown by more than 11% over the same period. Recognizing the role of higher education in the economic health and success of the state, Governor Brownback recommended level funding for all institutions along with targeted enhancements such as PSU’s new polymer chemistry degree program. Higher education is essential to Governor Brownback’s Road Map for Kansas and to moving the Kansas economy forward. PSU and KBOR continue to support the Governor’s budget recommendation of no cuts for higher education. Cuts, such as those included in both House and Senate budget bills, threaten the growth and stability of higher education in the state and would further shift the cost of education onto students and their families.
Conference committee negotiations between the House and Senate began this morning. Conferees are as follows:
Rep. Marc Rhoades, Chairman, House Appropriations Committee
Room: 111-N
Phone: 785-296-7682
Email: marc.rhoades@house.ks.gov
Rep. Gene Suellentrop, Vice Chairman, House Appropriations Committee
Room: 186-N
Phone: 785-296-7681
Email: gene.suellentrop@house.ks.gov
Rep. Jerry Henry, Ranking Minority Member, House Appropriations Committee
Room: 47S
Phone: 785-296-7688
Email: jerry.henry@house.ks.gov
Sen. Ty Masterson, Chairman, Senate Ways and Means Committee
Room: 545-S
Phone: 785-296-7388
Email: Ty.Masterson@senate.ks.gov
Sen. Jim Denning, Vice Chairman, Senate Ways and Means Committee
Room: 541-E
Phone: 785-296-7394
Email: Jim.Denning@senate.ks.gov
Sen. Laura Kelly, Ranking Minority Member, Senate Ways and Means Committee
Room: 125-E
Phone: 785-296-7365
Email: Laura.Kelly@senate.ks.gov
The Kansas House of Representatives this afternoon will debate a bill that will set the state budget for Fiscal Year 2014 and 2015. This bill will have a significant impact upon higher education in the state of Kansas and upon Pittsburg State University.
Included in the bill is a 4% across the board cut in state support for Pittsburg State University, a two year cap on salary and wages and a 70% reduction in funding for vacant, full-time positions.
This bill will result in a total cut of more than 7% or $2.5 million for your university.
Tomorrow, the Senate is scheduled to debate its version of the budget bill which includes a 2% cut to higher education.
These reductions would place extreme pressure upon tuition rates, significantly limit our plans for growth, restrict President Scott’s ability to locally manage the university and limit the role Pittsburg State plays as an economic engine in southeast Kansas.
Please contact your local legislators today and ask them to oppose any cuts to higher education.
Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at snaccara@pittstate.edu.
For more information on contacting your legislator, please visit:
My duties here in Topeka prevent me from taking part in campus Apple Day celebrations today but I cant help but be especially mindful of the historical roots of he tradition while sitting in the Capitol building. Here is a great video exploring the reasons for this very unique Gorilla tradition. This tradition really captures the true essence of our great University – through strong partnerships, vision, dedication, and determination we’ve accomplished much since 1903. What a great tradition to celebrate!
The registration deadline to vote in upcoming Pittsburg City Commission elections is fast approaching. If you live in Pittsburg and haven’t registered to vote you can do so online here.
On Friday, we held a budget and legislative forum for the campus community. These forums provide an opportunity to update the campus on progress in Topeka and to hear questions/concerns/input from faculty and staff. Here is the full video of the forum.
In the first part of the video President Scott shares the budget presentation he used in testimony to the House and Senate appropriating committees. In the second part of the video I provide a Turnaround Day update – basically “half-time” of the legislative session – on issues of interest to PSU and higher education. The final portion of the video is a Q&A with faculty and staff who were in attendance.
This morning, the Senate Ways and Means Committee adopted recommendations from the Education Budget Subcommittee on the KBOR budget. While we are still very early in the process and much can happen between now and the 90th day, the good news is that the recommendations on the KBOR budget include Governor’s proposed PSU budget. Under Governor Brownback’s budget proposal, endorsed by the full SWAM Committee, PSU funding would remain level with a special annual enhancement of $1 million for development and implementation of the new polymer chemistry degree program.
Consideration of the KBOR budget by the House will begins this week. President Scott will testify before the House Education Budget Subcommittee this Wednesday, February 20th.
