During the recent economic downturn, states have been forced to slice programs and numerous other expenses from their budgets. Virginia is no exception. In September 2009, former Gov. Timothy Kaine mandated a one-day furlough for all state employees to address the budget shortfall. The furlough declaration allows Virginia's public colleges to "buy back" the day by compensating the state for operating expenses, and in an e-mail to University faculty and staff members, President John T. Casteen, III announced that the University would opt out. Employees would not lose a day's salary, and the University's schedule would not be disrupted.
Furlough days - eight hours of unpaid leave - are nothing new to colleges and universities across the nation. Just last year, Arizona State University administrators and professors were mandated to take 12-15 furlough days in one semester. Reducing educators' workloads reduces the quality of students' educations. Legislators should recognize that higher education institutions are drivers of economic growth. During hard times, sacrifices must be made to balance budgets, but cuts should not be made to already cash-strapped universities. According to Gov. Bob McDonnell's executive order establishing the Commission on Higher Education Reform, "during the first decade of this century, Virginia's state support for public colleges and universities was cut nearly in half on a per-student, constant-dollar basis." Because money has been funneled away in the past few decades, state schools should have been exempted from the mandated furlough.
Fortunately, Casteen chose to avoid this disruption by financing most of the furlough day from the University's annual emergency reserve. "We have put the well being of our employees first, preserving jobs and avoiding layoffs," Casteen said in the e-mail. The move will benefit the University's employees financially, as the impact of losing a day's salary can be substantial in today's economy. Students also will be better off, as adjustments to class schedules - to some students' chagrin - will be avoided.
Nevertheless, the University will have to cough up $1.33 million. Though miniscule when compared to the University's current $2.25 billion operating expenditure budget, these funds most certainly could be better used to offset the onslaught of state budget cuts projected during the next few years.
The College of William & Mary and several other state universities also will buy back the furlough day so their employees and students don't have to. Casteen is right to buy back the furlough day, but the General Assembly should not put state universities in such a position. State legislators need to recognize that with the imminent budget cuts for higher education, state universities and colleges may not always be able to take this high road.\n
Capital gains
\nIncreasing out-of-state student enrollment rather than increasing capital fees would better alleviate the University's budget woesThe General Assembly has increased the amount of capital fees out-of-state students will pay to public colleges and universities. The increase will constitute less than 1 percent of what out-of state students currently pay in total tuition and fees and will be used for ongoing construction and renovation projects on Grounds.
Totaling $221, the hike in capital fees is by no means crippling. But rather than slowly tacking on a fee here or there to students' tuition rates, the University should take a more thorough approach and consider admitting a higher percentage of out-of-state students. An increase in the number of these students would add to the academic quality as well as University's coffers. Out-of-state applicants are generally more competitive than and pay twice as much as their in-state counterparts.
A higher proportion of these students not only would protect the University from declining state funding but also result in a stronger student body.
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