[Opinion: Build Alaska’s economy on the strengths of its university system]<\/ins><\/a><\/p>\nThe governor’s fiscal year 2020 budget, made public this morning, reduces the state-funded university operating budget by $134 million, or 41 percent, from its current operating budget, and $155 million from last year’s budget. This is the largest budget cut in the university’s 100-year history, Johnsen said, and comes on top of state budget cuts in four out of the last five years.<\/p>\n
Gov. Mike Dunleavy did not speak to the cuts to education at his press conference Wednesday. He deferred most questions on the specifics of his budget to Budget Director Donna Arduin.<\/p>\n
“We reviewed and revised programs with unsustainable spending that have come without corresponding positive results,” Arduin said. “Our investment in the University of Alaska is much higher than other states, and is eroded by low retention and graduation rates. As you know Alaska’s education system has the highest cost per student in the nation and the lowest amount of dollars going to instruction.”<\/p>\n
To emphasize the size of a $134 million cut, Johnsen said the UA Southeast’s budget alone costs $25 million, all the community campuses combined cost $38 million and UA Anchorage costs $120 million. They would have to double their tuition to make up for that big of a cut.<\/p>\n
“Even closing the entire UAA campus does not meet that ($134 million) cut,” Johnsen said.<\/p>\n
He said in the past, cuts have been managed by focusing on eliminating staff, rather than reducing programs. But with a cut of this size everything is on the table when it comes to looking at reducing the budget.<\/p>\n
“What’s ironic is I just came from the midsession summit of the Southeast Conference, and we were talking about how the university can work with our partners in health care and mine training to create workers for our economy here in Southeast Alaska, and this proposal will fundamentally undermine our ability to do that,” said UAS Chancellor Rick Caulfield in an interview with the Empire. “It’s such a dramatic, draconian cut, that I think unfortunately many young Alaskans will probably go out of state. And that will be a huge loss for Alaska, for our economy and all the work we’ve done over the years to build an Alaskan workforce.”<\/p>\n
A rally at just the right time<\/strong><\/p>\nStudents, alumni and other advocates for the university system held a pre-planned rally outside the Capitol, just one hour after the budget cut was announced publicly by the governor’s Office of Management and Budget.<\/p>\n
Some organizers didn’t even hear about the university cuts yet. The second annual non-partisan rally was coincidentally scheduled at the same time as the budget unveiling.<\/p>\n
“I was kind of trying not to know exactly (the extent of the cuts),” said Robin Gilcrest, UA faculty senate president and rally organizer. “Education is important. The university is important. A great state deserves a great university. I think the cuts are going to affect everyone. We are trying to keep the message positive.”<\/p>\n
Several representatives and senators were outside attending the rally, including Juneau Reps. Andi Story and Sara Hannan, along with Sen. Jesse Kiehl.<\/p>\n