A Radical Budget Solution

I have a partial solution for the budget crisis facing our state, and in particular our public universities and colleges.   After reading article after article about the deplorable conditions that exist at our public universities and colleges caused by their inability to maintain their infrastructures, and their continual worry about whether they will received decreased funding forcing additional faculty layoffs and program elimination, a radical change seems necessary.

Let’s eliminate state funding of colleges and universities completely and let them all play by the rules of free enterprise.  The only state money schools would receive is TOPS.  And that program would include only students with an ACT score of 22 or higher and a 2.7 GPA in core subjects.  It would only pay 90% of tuition costs with no more additional cash bonuses for higher scores.  If students lose TOPS eligibility while in college or don’t complete their college education, the money has to be paid back to the state by the students’ parents or legal guardians.  Might make some think twice before accepting the money.

Tuition at these newly formulated schools would be set by each school.  No more approvals required by the state legislature.  They would compete for students by offering the best bang for the buck as in the free enterprise business model.  This would force them to become more efficient at what they do so they could offer the lowest costs for attracting students to their campuses.

It is obvious that Huey Long’s idea that Louisiana should have a system of state funded universities and colleges has made these institutions indolent in terms of cost efficiency.  This becomes more and more evident with each budget cut they are forced to absorb as we learn how it will affect their operation.

 

Presently, for the most part, if the state doesn’t fund a project, it doesn’t get done, as is the case with infrastructure maintenance.   Our public 2 year and 4 year colleges and universities have neglected over $2 billion in required maintenance. Their excuse, “We requested the funding and didn’t get it, so we didn’t do it”, no alternative plans.  Wish I could use that excuse when my spouse wants me to fix something.

The other advantage this proposal might have is that those schools that can’t compete will simply fade away thus eliminating one of the biggest complaints our legislators have about our present system, duplication of services by colleges in close proximity.  Additionally, it will force schools to eliminate the unprofitable programs hemorrhaging their operating budgets such as athletic programs at several small colleges.  It may also impact the amount of alumni contributions.  If their alma mater needs financial help, they better pony up or risk its closing.

What a radical idea!  No more public colleges and universities.  Although my suggestion may be tongue-in-cheek, take a deep breath and think about it.