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W E’LL START BY giving Gov. Tom Corbett credit for shoving our institutions of higher education toward fiscal restraint. Corbett’s proposed budget slashes support for state-owned and state-related schools by 50 percent, and cuts smaller but still substantial “Institutional Assistance Grants” to private schools by almost as much.
For a little perspective, this year those grants totaled more than $1 million for King’s College and Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre alone.
There is good argument that too much government money can skew priorities at universities and colleges: With assurances of public dollars, the theory goes, they need not worry so much about attracting students through quality programs at affordable prices.
A related argument from private institutions contends that if any tax dollars are to pay for college, let the money go to the student, not the institution, thus expanding choice.
We think these perspectives have merit, but here’s the problem:
Corbett did not cut money for colleges so he could give more money to students; he cut money for both.
His budget reduces funds for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, which offers grants based on financial need.
He also wants to eliminate two smaller grant programs: Dual enrollment, which lets high school students attend college classes, and the New Economy Technology Scholarships that give $3,000 a year for three years to state residents majoring in key science and technology fields who maintain high college grades and remain in Pennsylvania several years after graduating.
Statistics tell us Corbett’s proposed cuts are pennywise and pound foolish. If the governor makes it harder to attend college, a study released last summer suggests he would be catering to the food service industry (think “want fries with that?”) and office clerk employers. Roughly 700,000 out of 2.3 million jobs expected to be available in the state for high school graduates will be in those fields by 2018.
The state’s more coveted jobs, and the real money, will be for those residents with at least some post-secondary education.
No, college isn’t for everyone, and yes, colleges must do more to remain affordable to students and relevant to the job market. The authors of last summer’s study said as much.
But there is no arguing with statistics. The share of jobs in Pennsylvania requiring a bachelor’s degree grew from 9 percent in 1973 to 30 percent in 2007. Jobs for high school grads dropped from 40 percent to 30 percent.
We urge Corbett and the Legislature to reconsider.
Because every time a bright teenager can’t afford college, our state’s future grows dimmer.
Corbett did not cut money for colleges so he could give more money to students; he cut money for both.