Fiscal reality about to hit colleges, universities

Jennifer Knight

Monday, Feb. 3, 2003 | 11:03 a.m.

Although higher education officials have issued hopeful words about the legislative session that begins today, the reality is that $72 million in funding for their programs was left out of a downsized budget.

Gov. Kenny Guinn did not include several items in the university and community college system's budget this session -- including items that would pay for part-time faculty pay raises; upgrade overworked and outdated computer technology; increase enrollment in nursing programs; and help schools stay in compliance with Title IX gender equity guidelines.

The attitude of those affected seems to be hopeful, but they are prepared to make do with less.

"I knew that (part-time faculty raises) would not make the budget," said Carol Conder, an adjunct instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "I guess we are sort of hopeful that it will make it in the budget in some measure."

The timing just isn't right, Chancellor Jane Nichols said. "Given the fiscal realities, as much as we need those items, we recognize that this is not the right session to reach a level of funding for those kinds of items," she said.

The governor has already recommended the Legislature fund the university system's $1.264 billion budget at a rate of 86 percent. That budget pays only for expected enrollment growth and increases in insurance costs -- not expansion.

The top five items related to expansion that the university system will focus on this session are:

The university system was also asking for $4.8 million to give part-time faculty members pay raises. The state has not raised their pay for 10 years, Conder said.

Another $3.5 million was to help schools comply with Title IX.

Also on the list of 21 priorities the university system identified was a $12 million plan to double nursing enrollment at the state's colleges and universities.

Bill Welch, president and CEO of Nevada Hospital Association, said he was discouraged by the situation with the nursing enrollment funds, given the state's shortage of nurses.

"We are not going to accept the fact that this is a done deal," Welch said. "We're going to figure out where we are on this issue. From there we will have to decide what the hospital community is going to do to re-educate people on this."

Nichols said the system hopes to pay for nursing expansion out of money the governor set aside for enrollment growth, but that plan hinges on the Legislature approving the governor's budget.

"We will be working on alternate recommendations to help pay for that," Nichols said.

Tony Flores, UNLV's budget director, said everyone there is already prepared for the worst. That means they will simply have to use what funds they have until the state's financial picture improves, he said.

"Clearly, some things will simply have to be postponed or stretched out over a longer period of time," Flores said.