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tuesday, august 28, 1979
lincoln, nebraska Vol. 103 no. 3
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Higher education caliber object of NewelPs concern
By Rocky Strunk
OMAlIA-A need for quality rather than quantity in
Nebraska's higher education system is what prompted a
legislative resolution calling for a "super" board of re
gents, according to State Sen. Dave Newell of Omaha,
who introduced the resolution.
"By coordinating higher education on a statewide level,
duplication of services Would be eliminated and there
would be better use of tax dollars," Newell told the Con
stitutional Revision and Recreation Committee Monday.
NewelTs resolution is for a constitutional amendment
that would establish a board of regents appointed by the
governor and approved by the Legislature.
The "super ' board would have statewide control of
higher education, replacing the state college Board bf
Trustees and the six boards of governors that oversee the
state's technical community colleges.
THE NU BOARD OF REGENTS, Which is elected, also
would be eliminated under the resolution.
"It is a very frustrating situation when people complain
to me about high taxes When we (state senators) don't
have more influence on higher education spending,"
Newell said.
According to NeWell's figures, Nebraska, ranks in the
upper third of all states per capita1 on higher education
spending.
SEN. GERALD KOCH of Ralston asked NeWell
Whether that expense was created by the geography of
Nebraska, but Newell contended most of the spending
came from unnecessary duplication of college services.
"It's a question of whether Nebraskans want quality or
quantity in their higher education," Newell said. "We
can't have community colleges in every town over 1 ,000
population. There should be priorities set as to services,
location and quality of higher education in Nebraska."
Newell also said a "super" board of regents would take
a look at several community colleges which may need
their growth slowed or sections of the same course cut for
more efficiency.
KOCH QUESTIONED whether a "super" board would
take away appropriations from other state educational
institutions.
"An appointed board would look at cost effectiveness
and public service Of higher education in Nebraska and
football wouldn't play in their decision at all," said
Newell.
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Phbtb by Tom Gessner
"Hey Mom, I don't wanna go!" That was probably the battlecry of this and many other small child
ren who Were sent off to school Monday . Lincoln Public Schools opened Monday marking the end of
summer.
Sen. Walter George of Blair requested inforniatiOrt Oil
higher education systems in other states, such as North
Carolina, which has had statewide coordination for 15
years.
ALTHOUGH INFORMATION From other states has
not been Obtained, George said some kind Of Study should
be conducted to determine whether an appointed board
Would be better than ah elected board.
NeWell said after the hearing that public opinion his
changed toward support of statewide coordination Of
. higher education and that he has been surprised at the
lack of opposition toward his resolution.
"THE MOST blftlcULT thing to do will be to get
the 30 votes in the Legislature required to pass a constitu
tional amendment," Newell said. M khow if it gets on the
ballot that it Will bass."
The lack Of NU regents at Kearney's hearing last week
and the Ohe irt Omaha Monday didn't surprise Newell.
"1 think that they are afraid of the image Of taking
over since it has been called a 'super' board of regents "
NeWell said. He added that one NU regent had indicated
he would testify for the resolution Monday, but that he
had called in the morning and canceled.
Regent Ed Schwartzkopf and student regent Bud Cuca
had told the Daily Nebraskan that they would try to
attend the hearing.
Schwartzkopf said, however, that he opposed the con
cept of appointed regents.
If a bill is introduced to establish the statewide board,
and if it passed the Legislature a vote by the public would
be required to establish the body .
Committee to ask
or more in
Tne Nebraska totf -Secondary tOrdinating Commis
sion my go 10 the Legislature to get mOW power over
public colleges and Universities. y
At iFridayvs meeting, the commission, which has only
advisory powers discussed asking the Legislature for
the power to approve future programs and delete unneed
ed programs in Nebraska's Universities and (colleges.
William duller, executive director olF the commission,
said that too many unneeded programs and courses are
still on the books.
"We in higher education have hot done the job Of
cleaning out programs," Fuller said, the commission
Would hot be a "super board," Fuller emphasized since
the commission would not have budgetary powers.
Recently, the possibility of having one governing
body Over all of Nebraska's colleges and has been dis
cussed. The NU Board of Regents governs NU and the
Board of Trustees of Nebraska State Colleges govern
state colleges.
The commission Will decide in October whether it will
ask the Legislature for more power.
This is not a sudden move, according to George Miller
the commission's president. Discussion of such legislation
has been going on since last winter.
tiuence
Tuition increase proponents say quality costs money
By Diane Andersen
Supporters of a proposed 1080-81 tui
tion increase say that unless students are
willing. to support the 10 percent increase,
educational quality at NU will go down.
In July, the NU Board of Regents
approved a budget request for next year
asking for a 15 percent increase in state
support, The request includes a 10 percent
rise in undergraduate tuition, 20 percent
for pharmacy and dentistry students, and
25 percent for medical students.
. The request wffl be submitted to the
Legislature Sept. 15.
Student Regent Richard Kemedy,
representative for the University of Nebras
ka Medical Center, said he supports the
proposed increases "because of inflation."
"If the students aren't willing to put In
their share, , along with the two tax lids
fust passed (in Omaha and Nebraska City)
it's going to be really tough to get anything
out of the Legislature next year," Kennedy
said. ' "
KENNEDY SAID he thinks some pro.
grans will have to be drastically cut or all
programs slightly cut if the budget request
is accepted.
He said that the large increase for medi
cal students is needed because federal
funds have been cut. The funds partially
subsidized medical education at NU,
according to Kennedy.
Kennedy said the problem of a doctors'
shortage In rural Nebraska Was dealt with
several years ago by changing from a tbree
year to a four-year degree program.
"This year the majority of freshman
medical students will be on a four-year
program, Kennedy said.
I DONT THINK a 25 percent increase
Will price anyone Out of a medical educa
tion if they really want One, he said, but
added that it would be harder for him to
finish medical school with the higher
tuition rate.
Kennedy said he hopes the faculty gets
the 10 percent salary increase the regents
ire requesting in their proposal.
;AKV tACULTV MEMBER IS going
to go where he can get the best salary and
supportive personnel,' he said. "Ten per
cent would boost morale considerably."
NU Vice President William Erskine, who
also supports the proposed increases,
blamed them on "the extraordinarily high
level of inflation" in the last few years.
He said maintenance and equipment
have received less attention in the last few
years, and the university has been on the
"borderline oh decreasing quality?'
ERSKINE SAID dollar amounts after
inflation show a slight reduction in tuition
In the last few years. Tuition, as a propor
tion of per capita income in Nebraska,
has also decreased.
In 1979-80, KU was third in the Big
tight in tuition end fees paid by students.
Erskine said that in 1971-72 tuition was
38.7 percent of the amount of state sup
port the university received. In 1979-80,
that percentage was 19.9. .
fersVine also said that, tiistorica21y, the
university bas not been competitive in the
area of faculty salaries.
Staff and salary increases at NU have
barely kept tip With inflation and the legis
lature's recommendations are a big influ
ence on regents decisions on salary
increases, he said.
"There were years we got substantial
increases from the state," Erskine said.
"The mood of the nation now Is to restrict
growth and public funds."
Both Kennedy and Erskine expressed
doubts that the Legislature will give NU
the full 1 5 percent being asked .
ERSKINE SAID THE 10 PERCENT tut
tion increase is "a big one for the students
to swallow but anything less would have
bad short-range effects on faculty and, in
the long run, would lessen NUs ability to
provide a quality education.
Erskine said the formal request budget .
will be submitted in September and the
governor and his analysts WiH start going
over ft.
Next spring, the Legislature Will bold I .
gjblic bearing at which NU President
onald Roskens and others will testify and :
answer budget questions.
The Legislature will make Ibe final:
decision on how much money to tive to
NU
