http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/knau/local-knau-946443.mp3
Phoenix, AZ – Brewer wants the state to double the number of bachelor's degrees
it offers by 2020. At the same time she proposes cutting state
aid to both universities and community colleges. On Tuesday, in a
written alternative to her State of the State speech, the
governor told lawmakers there are ways to both cut spending to
deal with the state's fiscal problems and achieve that goal of
more graduates. One of those would involve creation of a system
of state colleges that offer four-year degrees. Gubernatorial
press aide Paul Senseman said these could be entirely separate
from the university system. But he said it doesn't have to be
that way.
(It could be that they're integrated but have this different
approach. It could be that they share administrative savings but
have this different approach. She's looking at these kind of
reform measures that other states have implemented.)
Senseman said the heart of the idea is that not everyone who
wants a bachelor's degree needs what's offered at a full-blown,
research-oriented university -- and the costs entailed in going
there. He said there already is a model: Northern Arizona
University has a new free-standing campus in Yavapai County where
students can complete a four-year degree, but at a lower cost
than going to school in Flagstaff. The Board of Regents actually
authorized all three universities to go ahead with similar plans.
And Arizona State University spokesman Virgil Renzulli said there
are plans to create some of these low-cost colleges away from the
main campus. But he said these were contingent on cities coming
up with the money for land and buildings as the university
doesn't have any cash.
(So with the current budget situation which curtails what we can
do and the current budget situation for the cities who don't have
the money to do this, it's been postponed.)
And that returns to the fact that the governor's proposed budget
cuts state aid to universities by 20 percent. Senseman said it's
not a real 20 percent cut in their funding, as they have money
from other sources, notably tuition. And Senseman said Brewer
does not believe she is crippling the higher education system
even as she is demanding more from it.
(What she's called for is the same kind of streamlining that
you've seen in other parts of state government, which is delivery
of the same or improved services with less. That's not uncommon
throughout the rest of state government. The has been some
implementation of that already. And I think she's saying there
needs to be more.)
Brewer said there's another option to increase the number of
college graduates: Let community colleges offer four-year
degrees. But that idea, which actually has been kicked around for
more than 20 years, has been perennially beaten back by lobbyists
for the state's three universities. For Arizona Public Radio this
is Howard Fischer.