Want to hear it from the top?

President Shelton will be attending the GPSC meeting April 8th to answer questions from graduate students. See the GPSC press release for more details:

President Shelton Visit Press Release 3.31.09

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Academic Work student meeting

GPSC elections are going on until April 3rd.
Vote now or don't complain later:
www.gpsc.arizona.edu

...in a handbasket

According to an e-mail from Stephen Bieda III, Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) president, Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) has just voted to suspend the "top of the bottom 1/3 policy". This policy mandates the Arizona state universities not price their tuition any higher than the lower 1/3 of peer universities. Considering the importance of this policy in maintaining reasonable tuition and fee increases in the past, this is a bad sign for those of us who are paying for school.

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/03/31/News/Abor-May.Waive.Tuition.Limits-3690380.shtml

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/113336.php

Unfortunately, ABOR doesn't update its website often enough to get a good read on what this means for next year's tuition prices: http://www.abor.asu.edu/

Got a problem with the new decision? You can e-mail the regents at: universitybudgetcuts@gmail.com

Tuition "Taskforce"

The Tucson Citizen reports that U of A is looking into sharply increasing fees:

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/113233.php

Our favorite part is how the GPSC provided them with the numbers that probably any other part of the school would keep secret. Why won't our school be straight with us? All these hidden fees remind us of shopping for cars.

Tuition Surcharge

The Arizona Board of Regents is looking into a tuition surcharge for the coming year in order to offset budget shortfalls:

“Everything’s on the table,” said Fred Boice, president of the Arizona Board of Regents.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/286596.php

The article quotes NAU President John Haeger, saying that the increase could be about $200-$300. If you work a minimum wage job, that amounts to about 28 - 42 hours of work at a minimum wage ($7.25/hour) job, or about 2-3 extra hours of work per week over the course of the semester. If you're a student already working 20+ hours a week, this means a significant increase, if you are able to find work at all. Consider the fact that the U of A plans to lay off student workers in order to save money.

Just for fun: the definition of surcharge can be: "an additional charge, tax or cost" OR "an excessive sum or price charged; an additional or excessive load or burden" (Dictionary.com)

Success!!!!!!! (?)

Woo hoo!!!!!

From the Arizona Daily Star:

"State lawmakers will have to restore at least $150 million in cuts they just made to higher education to keep Arizona from losing more than $800 million in federal education stimulus funds.

Draft rules by the U.S. Department of Education require states to use their allocations to help restore public support to the higher figure of what was being spent either this budget year or the previous one.

While some GOP lawmakers are upset about the federal rules — and the need to give money back to universities — Gov. Jan Brewer is not, her press aide said.

"This governor views this as a good opportunity to restore some critical funding to universities," Paul Senseman said. He said Brewer realizes, though, that makes it more "challenging" to produce a balanced budget."

http://www.azstarnet.com/business/286208.php

From the Daily Wildcat:

"The development is a complication for legislators and Republican Gov. Jan Brewer as they struggle to keep the current budget in the black despite a new shortfall expected to reach $500 million. That's despite the January approval of a plan to close a $1.6 billion gap in the then-$9.9 billion budget."

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/03/27/News/Stimulus.May.Allay.Budget.Cuts-3685909.shtml

Write to Gov. Brewer as soon as possible and tell her that you support restoring the university budgets in order to meet the requirements for the stimulus package:

The Honorable Jan Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Telephone (602) 542-4331
Toll Free 1-(800) 253-0883
Fax (602) 542-1381

Or visit her website and fill out the comments form: http://azgovernor.gov/Contact.asp

Don't know what to say?

Phone: "I am an Arizona resident and student and I am calling to encourage the governor to restore the funding to university education so that Arizona can benefit from the stimulus package." (They will make a note of it and then hang up on you.)

Letter:
"Dear Gov. Brewer,
I am a resident of Arizona and a student and I am writing to encourage you to restore the funding to higher education and accept the stimulus package from the federal government. This is the best way to ensure quality public higher education and stimulate our state's economy through innovation. Thank you for your time and careful consideration of this matter.
Sincerely, [your name]."

The governor is the sole person who can decide to accept or reject these stimulus dollars. Make sure to tell her how you feel so that she knows the will of the people when she runs for election!

"Have I told you lately that I love you?"

GPSC is really standing strong in the face of overwhelming budget cuts in the coming years, and many of the officers currently serving in GPSC are not running for reelection. They are doing this for the good of the school and for the protection of graduate students!

Here is their statement in response to the projected fee increases. For more information, visit http://www.gpsc.arizona.edu/ or e-mail gpsc@email.arizona.edu

"Fee Policy Statement
Considering the rise of new fees in light of the economic crisis our State and University face,
The Graduate & Professional Student Council propose the following provisions attach to new fees and fee increases:

1) A Sunset Clause: given that the current fee requests are induced by the present economic downturn of the State economy, and that economic recovery is expected within the next two years, we request that fees be re-approved after two years (i.e., in FY 2011). This length of time is based on economic forecasts published by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee1.

2) A “Minimum Enrollment Requirement:” students should not be subject to fees if they do not meet minimum enrollment requirement for financial aid (e.g., this currently stands at six credit hours).

3) A “Distance Learning Exemption:” distance learning students should be exempt from paying fees that fund on-campus services only (such as the Rec Center fee).

4) Fee Remission: since fee amounts are becoming very significant, we believe GAs should receive full fee remission. Failure to do so endangers competitiveness of our graduate programs, since it equates to incomplete tuition remission and a pay cut for students providing key services to the University, whether as teaching or research assistants.

5) Commensurate Financial Aid Eligibility: All students who pay fees should receive an equal opportunity to the financial aid derived from those fees. This includes all graduate and professional students, including non-degree-seeking and international students. We ask that the University continue and strengthen its commitment to financial aid for the graduate and professional student population."

If you get a chance, thank your GPSC rep. They're working their butts off for us!

Do you have something to say?

A blog is only as strong as its readers and its contributors. We accept submissions for postings and tips. E-mail us at sallygradstudent@gmail.com. Feel free to write anonymously or with a pseudonym. We will never reveal your name or information. We will not be intimidated.

A very big distraction

ASUA announced yesterday that they will be sponsoring a concert for up to 17,000 people at the football stadium on campus. Production costs will be over $1 million. Tommy Bruce is quoted in the Daily Star as saying that all losses will be absorbed by the ASUA. What a tragic waste of time and resources. Is this why the concert is titled "Last Smash"?

http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/285880.php

Try to keep your eye on the ball, ASUA.

GPSA Week and GPSC Meeting wih Pres. Shelton

From Stephen Bieda III, GPSC president:
"Hi all,
The University of Arizona's Graduate & Professional Student Council is pleased to announce that UA President Robert N. Shelton will address the General Council and students on April 8, 2009 in LAW 168 at 6 pm for 2 hours.
The issues that the President intends to speak about include the budget, fees and the Transformation Plan. This meeting is open to all students, standing room only, with 30 minutes of questions from students attending. Please e-mail GPSC Assembly Chairwoman Bridget Barker, bmbarker@email.arizona.edu, if youwould like to ask President Shelton any questions.
Thanks,
Stephen W. Bieda IIIGraduate & Professional Student Body President"

Next week is GPSA (Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation) week. Check http://www.gpsc.arizona.edu/ for updates on activities, events, the GPSC elections (beginning March 27th) and lots of opportunities for free or cheap food, networking, family fun and blowing off steam.

Consider This

Community colleges

In what looks like an effort to re-direct resources from Universities to Community Colleges, Rep. Kavanaugh has proposed requiring the universities to accept credit for all 100, 200 and 300 level courses taken by students at community colleges. If you're a GAT, you know what this could mean for your job. The teaching will shift locations, eliminating the need for the universities to pay tuition reimbursement and benefits. It also would siphon tuition dollars away, meaning less money to pay professors, GRAs and GATs in the future. Additionally, consider the difference between the type of experience and education offered by the two types of institutions.

Here's the bill: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/1r/bills/hb2438p.htm

Cuts

ASU's president explains the possible scenarios for a 5, 10, 15 or 20 percent cut, as mandated by the governor:

"The reductions of 5-10-15-20 percents [for ASU] would require layoffs of 740, 1,010, 1,280 and 1,550 professional staff, the university said."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/business/112568.php

FEES! FEES! FEES!

"In the short term, the budget cuts have University of Arizona leaders initially proposing roughly $1,000 in new and increased mandatory fees in a move they say is necessary to keep paying for critical services such as utilities to run buildings on campus. "

Read the full article here:

http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/284137.php

Take a look at the comments section, too. Michael K. says:

"I did not see any mention of the proposed fees for graduate students.
The proposed fees are in the range of $2000 - $3000 per year, depending on who you ask. Currently in the sciences, we pay between $260 - $400 per year, depending on if you are a US or foreign student. This is a 500 ~ 1200% increase in grad student fees. Or put another way, we are going to take a 20% pay-cut next year (if this comes to pass).

I fail to see how the UA plans to be a top-10 public university. In the coming weeks, many prospective grad students will visit the UA and decide whether or not they should come here. Once they discover that they have to pay some ridiculous fees, they will choose to go somewhere else. For example the University of Oregon, a similiar university in terms of rank and prestige, will charge their grad students $200 per semester next year. "

Good point, Michael K.!

Is your major being cut?

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/111855.php

Majors targeted for cuts:
Family and consumer sciences education - BS
Teaching and teacher education - EdD
Secondary Education, all tracks (10 majors) - BA
Physical Education - BS
Bilingual/bicultural education - MEd
Bilingual/multicultural education - MA
Rehabilitation Counseling - EdD
Speacial education - EdS *
Engineering Bachelors of Art - BA (still offer BS in engineering)
Engineering Math - BS
Engineering Physics -(BS)
Reliability ad quality engineering - MS
French - PhD
Genetic Counseling - MS
Biochemistry, bachelors of Art (still offer BS in biochem)
Mathematical Sciences - professional science masters

*This spelling is in the original article.

Is your major on this list? Send us an e-mail and tell us how you feel about it: sallygradstudent@gmail.com.
We will never publish your name or any other information without your permission.

A Good Opinion

Check out U of A gradstudent Eva Romero's guest opinion in the Daily Star on how AZ could take a hint from facebook. When your customers aren't satisfied, your business won't run smoothly!

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/283531.php

"Here in Arizona, I am very unhappy with how legislators have completely ignored ongoing protests of the budget handling. In comparison, Facebook's response to mass protests has been intelligent, sensitive to long-term impact and swift. "

Eva Romero also runs a blog on all things Tucson entertainment: tucsonquerido.blogspot.com

More bad news

"Gov. Jan Brewer, searching for solutions to Arizona's estimated $3 billion revenue shortfall next year, asked all state agencies to provide scenarios for cuts to their organizations of 5, 10, 15 and 20 percent.
The state's three public universities and the Arizona Board of Regents did so in a 30-page document that begins with emphasizing the "maintenance of effort" provision in the federal stimulus funding package and the "crippling" effect additional cuts would have on higher education."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/111769.php

You see, the fed will only give AZ the stimulus money for education if funding is maintained at the 2006 level. We're nearly that low already (considering recent cuts). So the AZ leg wouldn't be able to cut the universities much more and still take the cash.

Have you written to your legislator lately?

Thousands Turn Out to Protest Cuts to Schools!

From the AZ Daily Star:
"Eric Shelley, a budget specialist for a health-care company, said the Legislature must invest in education so the state can improve its business development and generate more tax revenue.
"Businesses don't want to come here if they think there's no education going on, if there's no place for their employees to raise their kids," he said. "If you are pro-business, you should be pro-education." "
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/282932

From the Daily Wildcat:
"The university budget cuts have been an obvious cause for concern for administrators, legislators and student leaders. For as much attention as some have given the crisis, most students do not yet realize the impact it will have on their education."
http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/03/05/News/Caught.Between.A.Rock.And.A.Hard.Place-3661369.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition

From the Tucson Citizen:
"The protesters included students, parents, people from school organizations, labor unions and others critical of budget cuts already made and the prospect of deeper reductions.
In January, the Legislature cut about $130 million from K-12 public schools to help close a $1.6 billion shortfall in the then-$9.9 billion budget for the current fiscal year."
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/fromcomments/111445.php

KVOA 4's video

March 4th Rally at the State Capitol

From Speak up now, Arizona:

"Wednesday, March 4th at 4pm we need to voice our opposition by attending the March4Schools (http://march4schools.com/) rally. This rally will be the largest mobilization of education supporters in our state's history. Thousands of students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers will converge on the Capitol to demonstrate Arizona's broad and deep support for our public schools."

Out-of-Control Fees

The requests for new fees are now out. Although the spreadsheet is a little hard to interpret, it looks like graduate students are looking at well over $1,000 in new fees, none of which are currently covered by GAT and GRA remission. Although Dean Comrie has proposed that the new Graduate College fee be covered by remissions, Pres. Shelton has refused to commit to this.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/12955273/Fee-Requests-2009

Write Pres. Shelton and Dean Comrie a letter explaining how much of a burden these fees will be to you: Robert.shelton@arizona.edu, comrie@email.arizona.edu

Click below for an update on the current proceedings in the State Legislature on the upcoming 2010 budget:
http://www.externalrelations.arizona.edu/government_state_update.cfm

Rally March 4th

This is predicted to be one of the largest mobilizations of educators in the state! Details can be found in the Wildcat article below!

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/03/03/News/Rally.To.Seek.School.Support-3656932.shtml

ABOR is looking into changing the firing policy for faculty, meaning that tenure track professors could be fired with 90 days notice due to budget shortfalls.
http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/03/03/News/Faculty.Looks.At.Likely.Layoff.Policy-3656930.shtml
"One of the most important things we can all do as we deal with these very difficult times is, as they say, 'hang together' so we don't 'hang separately,'"

Quality PUBLIC education

In the Tucson Citizen today: Gary Rhoades from the American Association of University Professors denounces Arizona's response to the budget crisis. Raising tuition, accepting more out of state students and putting education out of reach for so many Arizonans will do more harm than good.

"And we all suffer. These policies hurt not only the students who lose out on this opportunity, but also our economy.
They're limiting our ability to expand the middle class, the tax base, and all the social and cultural benefits that go with higher levels of educational attainment.
Throughout our country's history, cities have understood that a college or university is an investment that benefits the whole community.
Higher education is a public good, not just a private good."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/opinion/111259.php