There were no clear winners in the federal debt ceiling deal reached last Tuesday. Everything was on the table for cuts — including education. National legislators eliminated the interest subsidy for a government-subsidized loan program for graduate and professional students. But in a bittersweet compromise, the cut allowed the maximum award for the federally funded Pell Grant program to persist.
The Pell Grant is important for a large number of students at the University of California, where approximately 40 percent of undergraduate students are eligible to receive the award. The preservation of the grant is crucial as an undergraduate degree is becoming less attainable due to financial restraints. Thus its survival is a victory, although a minor one, for students. However, it is difficult to feel relief because the grant was saved at the cost of eliminating the interest subsidy for the Stafford graduate loan program.
Unfortunately, the political circumstances surrounding the debt deal — namely federal cuts without the option of increased revenue — made it clear that the tiers of higher education would have to be prioritized. In this case, the priority was rightly given to undergraduate education, which is becoming necessary even for the lowest paying skilled jobs.
Though an undergraduate education is necessary, it is becoming increasingly obvious that it alone cannot grow the American economy. In order to remain competitive in the future, graduate degrees are becoming more necessary. However, the national government has joined California’s legislature in disinvesting in that very future. As the prestige of an undergraduate degree wanes, students look to graduate degrees to remain competitive in the globalized marketplace. And since graduate and professional schools are generally more expensive than an undergraduate education, the elimination of the interest subsidy is undoubtedly a setback for the American economy and the country’s ability to remain competitive.
For any level of government, education is a unique expenditure. It is difficult to imagine a time when cutting education amounts to a long-term, responsible decision. While it certainly saves money in the here and now, cutting education means dismantling the creative, productive and competitive potential of America.
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Budget pleading strategy….My program is unique. Cut the other program
[Though an undergraduate education is necessary, it is becoming
increasingly obvious that it alone cannot grow the American economy. In
order to remain competitive in the future, graduate degrees are becoming
more necessary.]
Says who, a bunch of academics justifying their own existence?
The educational issue w/r/t the economy in this country is NOT some shortage of people with graduate degrees, certainly not with any dearth with the type of humanities and liberal arts degrees that offer little or no relevance in the marketplace, and in fact often present an economic liability, as the time and money expended in such degrees will never be offset by higher salaries. The biggest educational issue in this country is the millions of adults who lack the most basic math and reasoning skills, are barely literate, can’t communicate effectively in the English language, and therefore lack any solid foundation for either acceptance as an college undergrad or some type of technical/vocational program. This applies for prospective applicants to the military as well – the armed forces require young people who can be trained and DEPENDED on to operate complex, expensive systems without injuring themselves or damaging said equipment.
Once again, an example of the cloistered, self-centered mindset of academia at work…
University of California Berkeley President Chancellors Faculty, share the financial pain with wage concessions.
University
of California Berkeley
share financial sacrifices with Californians, students: no deal. Democrat,
Republican Californians face mortgage defaults, 12% unemployment, pay
reductions, loss of unemployment benefits. No layoff or wage reductions for UC
Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Faculty during greatest recession of modern
times.
There is no good reason to raise tuition, fees when
wage concessions are available. UC wages must reflect California’s
ability to pay, not what others are paid. If wages better elsewhere,
chancellors, vice chancellors, tenured, non tenured faculty, UCOP apply for the
positions. If wages determine commitment to UC Berkeley, leave for better paying
position. The sky above the 10 campuses will not fall.
Pitch in (with deeds not words) for all California
Democrats, Republicans UC!
No furloughs. UCOP 18% reduction salaries & $50
million cut.
Chancellors’ Vice-Chancellors’, 18% cut. Tenured
faculty 15% trim.
Non-Tenured, 10% reduction. Academic Senate, Council remove 100% costs
salaries.
It is especially galling to continue to generously
compensate chancellors, vice-chancellors, faculty while Californians are making
financial sacrifices and faculty, chancellor, vice-chancellor turnover is one
of the lowest of public universities.
The message that President Yudof, UC Board of Regent
Chair Lansing, UC Berkeley Birgeneau are sending is that they have more concern
for generously paid chancellors, faculty. The few at the top need to get a grip
on economic reality and fairness.
The California Legislature needs a Bill to oversee
higher education salaries, tuition.