1. The Price of Not Funding Vermont State Colleges
Believe it or not, in 22 years, the State has failed to increase funding to the Vermont State Colleges
(VSC) to keep up with inflation. This has resulted in our State Colleges experiencing an alarming 76%
drop in State appropriations from 1990 to 2013.
This year, the Shumlin Administration proposed to increase VSC funding by 2%, which would level
fund the system when you factor in this year’s projected 2% inflation rate. The VSC had requested a 4%
funding increase to help restore the VSC's affordability and competiveness, so even the Governor’s
proposal didn’t quite meet the VSC’s needs, but it did prevent an actual funding cut.
Enter the Vermont House, which recently voted cut the Governor’s 2% VSC funding
increase to just 1%. If that 1% is allowed to stand, the VSC will have to find money
somewhere to make up the difference. Where will the VSC find that
money? Its students, who will most likely be asked to
pay yet another tuition increase. This hurts our students,
and it further damages VSC’s ability to recruit new
students in what is already a tough recruiting
climate.
To help VSC officials secure the full 2% increase,
VSEA’s State Colleges’ members are joining
with them to urge the Senate to reject the House's cut
andinclude the full 2% in the new budget.
Contact your Senators today and ask them to include the Governor’s entire 2% funding increase to the
Vermont State Colleges!
Here are some talking points for when you call:
• Please restore the State’s proposed 2% increase for the State Colleges;
• Vermont ranks 47th in state appropriations for Higher Education, per 1,000 of personal income;
• VSC receives 18% of their funding from the State; national average for state colleges is 53%;
• VSC - 82% dependent on tuition for funding and the national average is 47%.
• The average Vermont student graduates with the 13th highest graduate debt in the nation.