More Students, Less Money for Education in 2011

More educational institutions, especially colleges and universities, will be forced to make drastic budget cuts in 2011, predicts Dr. Stephen Katsinas, professor of higher education administration at The University of Alabama and director of UA’s Education Policy Center.

“The lack of state revenues, due to the recession, will be a major budget challenge in 2011,” Katsinas says. “The funding situation for education is dire already in some states.

“K-12 school districts are owed unpaid funds from state government or are borrowing to meet payrolls in five states, including Alabama. The same is true for community colleges in four states, including Alabama.

“Across the board cuts and furloughs will be the most common approaches used to close these budget gaps,” he predicts.

Educational institutions are faced with a combination of more Americans wanting access and state funding declines due to the recession, Katsinas says.

“The numbers of 18 to 24-year-olds in the American population will grow by 1 million, and young adults ages 25 to 34 by 3 million between 2009 and 2012. This ‘tidal wave’ of students knocking at the door for access will occur whether or not public institutions are funded to serve them,” he says.