Why you won't see Sally at the Jay-Z concert

While Tommy Bruce and the rest of the ASUA throw themselves a $1 million going-away party, Sallygradstudent will be at home, studying, which is what she came to graduate school to do. If you haven't already read Heather Price-Wright's criticism of the timing and context of ASUA's concert, check it out here:

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/04/20/Opinions/Concert.Coach.Hard.To.Reconcile.In.Uas.Dire.Times-3717163.shtml

Since Price-Wright's article was published on April 20th, she had no way of knowing how few tickets were actually sold as of this morningWe'll have to wait until tomorrow to see if the ASUA's lofty expectations of actually making money on this deal will come true, but as of this morning, it wasn't looking like the project would even break even: http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/290738.php

Just for your reference: the $750,000 that is being paid to Jay-Z (one of the concert performers) could have paid the projected $1,100 tuition surcharge for 681 undergraduate students. Alternatively, it could have paid into a fund to assist struggling students to pay their tuition and fees in these tough economic times. It is just shocking how much ASUA gets away with. Check out this article about alledged elections fraud in the ASUA:

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/03/24/Opinions/Editorial.Asua.Undermined.Its.Own.Legitimacy-3680447.shtml

In other news, the ABOR will be meeting tomorrow and Friday to determine if proposed cuts will be finalized, to possibly approve tuitions increases and to solidify restructuring plans. The details on the meetings appear in the article. Several programs are up for elimination and several "administrative" positions, too.

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/290723.php

The question is whether eliminating certain positions such as adjuncts and secretaries will really save money in the end. Adjuncts are relatively cheap labor and can sometimes put more time into teaching than other professors are able to do. Secretaries who really know what they are doing save time and energy for everyone: (ever had a message lost by a student worker?). Sometimes what looks cost-efficient is actually going to cost money in the long run.

A World Gone Mad

Lawmakers look to raid the reserve cash of the already suffering Arizona school districts to backfill the state budget shortfall:

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/115213.php
"Officials of several school groups expressed strong concerns about the proposal. "

Since when are schools supposed to be funding the state? Isn't it the other way around. 600+ pink slips that went out in Tucson (TUSD) this semester. Those former employees will want to collect unemployment and won't be paying as many taxes as before, making the cycle worse, not better, and the school districts need some resources! How are they supposed to teach?

Rep. Carl Seel proposed this idea. Don't forget to send him an e-mail and tell him if you're opposed to it: cseel@azleg.gov, or call (602) 926-3018

Gov. Brewer's 100th day in office and still no budget:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/115214.php

"As Republicans panned the tax increase idea and started considering borrowing and other alternatives previously on the no-go list, Democrats tried to change the subject.
They called on Brewer to spell out a plan for solving a crisis that has led to state employees layoffs, funding cuts for safety-net programs and thousands of school teachers put on notice they may lose their jobs. "

This AP article somehow fails to mention the closed-door meeting and some Democrats' claims that the bulk of the legislature has been entirely excluded from these budget negotiations.

Yes, it's been a while

In the latest news:
Paltry turnout for the ABOR meeting on tuition: Some say it's apathy, but Sallygradstudent thinks it's weariness. How many meetings have we attended and been ignored?
http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/04/21/News/Forum.Turnout.Paltry-3719166.shtml

The Tucson Citizen does a huge article on Provost Meredith Hay's first year at U of A:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/frontpage/114790.php

Here's what we can't figure out: "The changes are already being launched, and by the fall, UA will look markedly different. There will be new schools and departments created by mergers and consolidations, and - courtesy of those massive state cuts - larger class sizes and more graduate assistants filling in for unfunded faculty lines."

We've heard that graduate student positions are being cut and class sizes increased.

What have you heard?

$1,100 surcharge

According to the Tucson Citizen and a campus-wide memo sent by Pres. Shelton, a $1,100 surcharge may be added to next year's tuition (which, as you will recall, was already significantly increased by the Regents): http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/114121.php
In the Wildcat: http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/04/10/News/Ua.To.Add.Tuition.Surcharge-3706328.shtml

One colleague of Sallygradstudent commented that two of her undergraduate students stated that they will not be able to afford to go to UA next semester because they already could barely afford the tuition increase, much less the surcharge.

What is most insulting is that the administration is calling this an 'economic recovery' surcharge, giving the false impression that this is somehow a plan to help students recover from the bad economy, not a way for the administration to 'recover' the funds lost from the state cuts. (Just read the comments after the Tucson Citizen article.)

In other news: "Class sizes worry GPSC". GATs and GPSC's President Bieda explain the inevitable snowball effect of cutting GATs. Fewer GATs= bigger classes, more time grading and less quality education for students and teachers alike:
http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/04/10/News/Class.Sizes.Worry.Gpsc-3706344.shtml

Where to begin?

Pres. Shelton took some hard questions from the GPSC and members of the audience last night. More details to come (we were totally there), but for now, here's Shain Bergan's well-written article in the Wildcat:

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/04/09/News/Grads.Grill.Shelton-3704352.shtml

By the way, our absolute favorite speaker of the night was Hope Jones, who explained that there are two President Sheltons, one who sticks up for us grads and one who is a politician.

In the Daily Star today Aaron Mackey reports on the $1,000 tuition surcharge proposed by Pres. Shelton: http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/288069.php
As several graduate students explained last night at the GPSC meeting, what the money is called is almost as important as how much money is charged. Tuition waivers and fellowships would cover all or part of "tuition" surcharges, while they would not cover additional "fees". The semantics are almost as important as the economics.

Also, the audience received a copy of the proposed fee increases last night, including a utilities fee. As Sallygradstudent has said time and time again, there needs to be an immediate campus-wide utilities conservation program enacted. ASUA needs to pick this one up and get students to stop turning the air down to 55 degrees in classrooms, get the lights turned off at night, etc.
Get on the ball, ASUA!

SHELTON AT GPSC TODAY

Don't miss it!
Pres. Shelton will be at the GPSC meeting tonight, 6-8pm in Law 168!

*There will certainly be members of the press and other administrators at the meeting, so bring your outrage, but keep it professional.

In the news today:

TUSD hands out 600 pink slips: http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/287908.php
For those of us who've always thought to ourselves, "If I get sick of this graduate school stuff, I could always teach high school", this is disappointing. More seriously, though, it means that the state of our public schools is in crisis. Students who don't have the education they deserve at the elementary and secondary levels are at high risk of either not making it to college, or not performing to their full potential in college, making everyone's jobs harder and further excluding valuable and inteligent students from academia.

TUSD blames this situation on the legislature's failure to act on the budget. Have you e-mailed, called or written to your legislators lately?

Pima Community College may raise tuition slightly: http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/287879.php

Saturday Night Live: "ASU, yes. U of A, no."

In case you missed it, SNL did an Obama stimulus parody this weekend and mentioned U of A.

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/presidential-address/1081312/

(Go to about 1 minute 10 seconds left and you'll hear the reference).

It's funny, but in all seriousness, it should serve as a little reminder that the Arizona state legislature has the power to exclude us from benefiting from the stimulus package. When was the last time you e-mailed your represntative? (Links to appropriations committee members and to the azleg website are on the left-side column of this blog.) It takes about 30 seconds to give them a little piece of your mind and it feels pretty good to tell them about the importance of quality public education in our state.

News, News, News

GPSC elections results are in. You can read about outgoing president Bieda's statement and other exciting tidbits in the Daily Wildcat. Shain Bergan's reporting is sharp and accurate. He might be one of our new favorite journalists:

"It was not quite the drama voters have come to expect of student government - no one cried, unlike ASUA elections - but the Graduate and Professional Student Council elections last night yielded over 600 total votes, double the turnout of last year."

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/04/07/News/Graduate.Elections.BudgetFocused-3700216.shtml

The faculty senate has voted to accept the majority of the proposed organizational changes to the university. A list is available in the article, although we think it reads about as easily as stereo instructions:

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/04/07/News/Faculty.Alters.Colleges-3700215.shtml

The local news for primary and secondary schools:

TUSD may lay off up to 600 people:
http://www.azstarnet.com/business/287654.php
TUSD teachers plan an protest:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/113782.php

Arizona state lawmakers complain (and rightfully so) that they are being excluded from budget meetings and that a handfull of legislators is making the decisions for everyone. At the same time, no bills are being debated and passed, meaning that many of our elected officials are sitting around, waiting for something to do:

"A few people in leadership at the top are sitting in rooms, with the door closed, deciding the future of Arizona," said Rep David Schapira, D-Tempe. "The rest of us are just down here for show."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/business/113820.php

"Education Chief Says Don't Over do it on Cuts"

When you read the title of this Daily Star article, it seems like you're going to hear about the education chief telling the legislature not to over do it. Actually, it's the education chief telling the schools not to panic and accidentally cut too much. Teachers who have been given pink slips are, understandably, upset (for themselves and their students).

Rather than criticize the legislature for failing to take action, failing to re-organize their priorities, or Gov. Brewer for instructing schools to do exactly what they just did (behave as if they could receive up to a 60% cut), Tom Horne tells the schools not to panic.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/287577.php

Perhaps our legislature should re-prioritize and not be surprised when schools panic under the threat of up to 60% cuts. We need guidance, not cut-and-wait attitudes.

Bad News, Good News

TUSD sends notices to over 500 teachers that they may not be re-hired next school year due to budget cuts from the state legislature:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/breakingnews/113587.php

8th graders don't let their age stop them from protesting the budget cuts effecting their schools. They use language arts class as an opportunity to learn about civic duty and persuasive writing while telling Gov. Brewer what they think of the budget cuts:
http://www.azstarnet.com/business/287361.php

A message from the President

After so much silence from the administration, and resulting confusion in the campus community, Pres. Shelton released a statement today regarding the funding situation and the possible results of the stimulus bill. He reminds us that this bill will consist of temporary funding, not permanant funding (the kind that results in full-time jobs, etc).

Shelton says: "In closing, I come back to our "mantra" of quality. The UA is one of the premier research universities in the world. The people of Arizona deserve access to the educational opportunities we provide, the quality of life enhancements that result from our research and community outreach, and the economic gains that our federal research funding fuels."

Read the complete memo here: http://www.president.arizona.edu/prescomm_more.cfm?f_ID=102

Pres. Shelton is scheduled to attend the GPSC meeting Wednesday, April 8th, 6-8pm in Law 168. We suggest that you pressure him to give a clear answer about what exactly "quality" means.

If you want to speak at the meeting, e-mail: bmbarker@email.arizona.edu. If you just want to attend, no reservation is necessary; it's free and open to the public, standing room only.

Tuition cap debate

While the tuition taskforce in ABOR was able to squeak out a 6-5 vote recommending that tuition be uncapped (as the upper end of the lower 1/3 of its peer institutions), it may be that tuition stays capped.

ABOR set up an e-mail address to hear your opinions: universitybudgetcuts@gmail.com

Apparently Tommy Bruce (ASUA president) is pretty upset about the vote. Maybe that million dollar concert he proposed wasn't actually the best idea... Want to tell him that? tbruce@email.arizona.edu

http://media.wildcat.arizona.edu/media/storage/paper997/news/2009/04/02/News/Students.Await.Board.Vote-3693986.shtml

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.