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A canary in a coal mine
Potential higher education cuts signal that Nevada is in need of a new vision
Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 | 2:07 a.m.
Dan Klaich, chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, made a sobering presentation Tuesday to the Board of Regents, laying out potential budget cuts facing the state’s colleges and universities.
Klaich said the $900 million budget deficit could mean a 22 percent reduction in general-fund revenue for the state’s colleges and universities. That would translate to a loss of $37 million this fiscal year and $110 million next fiscal year.
To make up that much money, the system would have to take drastic action. To demonstrate, Klaich presented several different scenarios, including:
• Closing colleges. He laid out three options that would close various campuses and programs — one plan would close the doors at the College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College, another plan would shut down the law and dental schools at UNLV and the medical school at UNR.
• Reducing payroll. The system could cut employee pay by 20 percent or force employees to take another five days off a month unpaid or lay off 1,290 employees.
• Raising student tuition and fees by nearly 50 percent.
There are those who would say a college education is a luxury and students should pay the full cost of their own education, which would undoubtedly make a college education unaffordable for most people. In an editorial board meeting Wednesday with the Las Vegas Sun, Klaich noted that such thinking “assumes there is no public good in an educated populace.”
Public education provides a great benefit to society as a whole. Studies have shown that regions that have higher education levels do better economically than other areas of the country. Businesses go to those areas because the workforces are better trained and the people there often have more money to spend because they have better jobs. Good colleges and universities have proved to be economic engines for their communities, and they are vital to citizens.
In today’s world, it takes a college degree to qualify for many jobs, and this economy has sent many workers back to school, particularly community colleges, to gain skills for new careers.
Given this economy and the deficit, the best the state may be able to do is make careful cuts to avoid decimating education, not to mention other necessary government services. But Klaich’s presentation should be a wake-up call for Nevadans, showing yet again the long-standing problem with the way the state funds schools, roads and necessary government services. “At some point in this state, we’ve got to define what we value and be prepared to pay for it,” Klaich said.
It has been clear for years that the tax system is broken, but we don’t expect that to come up in the special session Gov. Jim Gibbons is expected to call to deal with the deficit. Gibbons, by law, gets to set the agenda. However, the governor and lawmakers will have to deal with the ramifications of their cuts.
Some of Nevada’s leaders have been caught in an intellectually lazy ideology that despises taxes of any kind and then decries a lack of services, blaming problems on government waste and bureaucracy. That may play well with some voters, but it ignores the facts. Nevada has a low tax burden and, thus, a corresponding low level of services.
Despite that, the state’s colleges and universities have made great strides in the past decade or so, but budget cuts could wipe out those gains. Klaich said the system could revert to the level of funding it received in 2002 — when it had 20,000 fewer students.
The bottom line is state leaders can’t cut a quarter of the university system’s budget in the name of “belt tightening” and expect Nevada to have a bright future.
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"A Canary in a Coal Mine" = State Income Tax.
Why doesn't anyone at the Sun have the 'nads to write what they are really proposing?
How about the University fulfill what taxpayers view of its primary mission. To teach students. Drop the drive to be world class in research and publishing and just teach the students.
Review the cost of college professors that teach little and seem to think they are immune from cost cutting and payroll reductions. The University is NOT a world unto itself but an arm of the state and subject to the taxpayers ability to fund.
Those actually aren't very big cuts all things considered. Last year's 50% cut in the general fund appropriations turned out to be about a 15% cut in UNLV and UNR's total budget.
Yes education benefits society, but only if it is producing results. Just spending more money and getting the same results hurts society - that money could be spent elsewhere and produce something of benefit.
We need a major overhaul of education, not hyperbole demanding we keep funding the status quo.
PS, from 2001-2008 NSHE saw its budget grow 7.9 percent per year, a rate that was 3 times higher than inflation over that period. I'll also note that this was more than enough to keep up with student growth.
PS, Jim Rogers threatened a 225% increase in tuition if last years budget cuts went through. That massive tuition increase didn't come through. So I doubt this much smaller cut would result in a 50% tuition increase.
Oh yeah, only about 30% of the jobs on the market require a college degree.
As far as intellectually lazy is concerned, I think its lazy to just say "raise taxes" so you can throw money at systems that have been failing for years. It takes intellect to think outside the box and come up with new solutions.
How about becoming part of the solution for once Las Vegas Sun, instead of pandering to what you think your readers want to hear?
Comrads !
No degree means no education. No education means a low level of life in the business community and the social world, in general. Preposterous, to say the least.
Funding Solutions - property tax rates, gas and fuels tax rates and retail sales of cigs and liquors can and will take care of the budget short fall. I am willing to pay a modicum more if the state can substantiate proper accounting of the collected revenues. Let the owners of the retail complain.
The students trust the state to provide them the opportunity for an education and they are right. Man the felt cloth tables, toss the dice, buy your cigarettes and your half gallon vodkas and feel happy about it in your support of the student body. Perhaps they will be able, then, to understand the difference between Duke University and Duke Ellington, Dresden and Berlin and Leningrade and St. Petersburg.
Arm to Arm, Shoulder to Shoulder We March !
Cutting down those 160K salaries for teaching only one class would be a start. A quick look at the organizational chart shows a fair amount of duplication. There are 22 deans and about 25percent could be absorbed and the positions eliminated with out affecting any courses. I suspect the rest of the school has similar overpopulation in other departments. Yes the school can be made leaner just like a private corporation.
To claim that there is no place to cut is preposterous. Please do not assail our ears with falsehoods when the scandals that have plagued the institution have made people scratch their heads and wonder what planet you are actually living on.
The Sun should repeating these words at the top every single editorial article:
"We are full massive tax increases every year (expect for any tax that is on one our businesses because we are big time hypocrites.)
I agree with everyone above. The university needs to make cuts and focus on educating students and doesn't need to spend $100k+ on so many professors.
Longun states "the school can be made leaner just like a private corporation."
One solution is to let the schools be more like a private corporation. Let them keep their tuition (it goes to the state) and let them save it during good times so they can use it during tough times. As it stands now, they cannot save money from year to year.
Keep in mind, it would take time to implement something like this, and the cuts will be in effect very quickly.
There is one point that should be made: that for many students the college experience involves a year or so reaching freshman levels in reading, writing and mathmatics. Only then do students "start" with higher education. So when someone says that many jobs do not require a college degree, remember that the colleges spend resources bringing people up to high school levels.
The fact is that the community colleges and universities here and elsewhere are strapped with the costs of doing in a year what public education didn't do in 12 years. Without getting into a debate about what ails the public schools, higher education in this state gets the job done. If you cut the colleges, you will harm those individuals who seek what they should have learned in High School. It is the best fix we have right now for the failing public schools.
Huh. Which corporation should they be like? General Motors? AIG? Goldman Sachs?
By the way, the idea of giving the most "talented" people in an organization huge salaries and benefits mainly for screwing up is one of those private sector ideas.
Yep, what a stale idea. Running things like a corrupt, greedy multinational. Do you Nevada Policy Research Institute guys, pulling your salaries from those very corporations to spend you days typing in the Sun comments column, ever come up with something new?
Nevada_Scandalmonger,
I'm not one of those Nevada Policy Research Institute guys, and I didn't mean to sound like one. The thing is, I think schools are realizing that Nevada citizens have a hard time believing in education, one reason why we are next to last or dead last in every educational survey.
Let me repeat that. We are last. The absolute bottom. Every once in a while, we beat Mississippi. But most of the time, Mississippi actually cares more and edges us out for the 49th spot.
All I was suggesting is that schools will benefit from being able to generate income (through tuition) and save that income. At this point, tuition goes to the state and funds cannot be saved year to year. The state will benefit as well because the schools could be more self-reliant.
First, I am an associate professor at U.N.L.V., so that is information is fairly disclosed. Second, I appreciate the fact that citizens are keeping up with the news related to higher ed. What is a little disturbing is the uneducated commentary and half-truths or completely false assertions in the above. It is true that there are faculty that have high salaries (100+ k), but the reality is those are mostly professors at the level of Full Professor - not Assistant or Associate professors. But , don't take my word for it, go see yourself (http://hr.unlv.edu/) as all U.N.L.V. salaries are public info. under the Employee Salary List. So, from the commentary above the question appears to be "do they deserve such high salaries?" Well, I suggest that you go to each faculty vita and determine that for yourself. And how would judge or make that determination (i.e., criteria)? Perhaps trying do what we do ...
let's start with you replicating or conducting your own research study: a) come with a scientific research question, b) develop a sound methodology to test the hypothesis and get it approved through I.R.B., c) seek external grant funding for your proposal (after you write it up and cite the professional literature - typically 100+ other related research studies), d) if you are funded (typically 1-2 year process), begin collecting data, analyze the data, and then write it up, e) now see if you can get it published in a timely fashion. Most research projects take 3-5 years (depending on the discipline) and hundreds of hours of labor. Now, try to conduct 3-5 of these research studies per year, present your data at national research symposiums, teach your classes, advise students, participate in faculty governance, provide service to the community, etc. Once you have done all of that for a couple of years (20+), then you might have grounds to make an accurate determination of whether or not those high salaries are "earned" or deserved. Remember, U.N.L.V. & U.N.R. are NOT community colleges where there is NO research requirement; that is the major difference between a university and college - they don't spend hundreds of hours conducting research each year - discovering new knowledge - they teach what WE discover. Take a look at faculty vitae and see for yourself what new discoveries, new knowledge, etc. we are producing and how it is benefiting NV and elsewhere. One of my research studies on schizophrenia and major depression showed that as individuals in psychotic state became aware of their disease they subsequently became suicidal - which is now changing the treatment regime for these disorders (rather than the psycho-education approach of educating them in an active psychotic state, such is done when they come out of psychosis) and reducing the number suicide attempts and completions - and the folks at community colleges are now teaching this new information to students. My research has saved hundreds of lives ... Now, I know most of you would never be able to do what we do in terms of research ... you simply don't have the knowledge how to conduct research, or the statistics, etc. so you really have no grounds to make the assertions about faculty salary. Further, once you get your doctorate or equivalent disciplined degree after 5+ years of intensive study, maybe then you can continue the conversation here ... in the mean time, with all due respect, please keep your ignorant comments to yourself. Thank you.
@T-2-4:
That is the type of elitist attitude that cultivates misunderstanding and resentment among the readers. We as taxpayers support UNLV and UNR and make your work possible. One would conclude that the unwashed masses are not competent to comment on your support, but are expected to support it. Show some respect for us.
Oops a couple of typos to correct-sorry
@T-2-4:
That is the type of elitist attitude that cultivates misunderstanding and resentment among the readers. We as taxpayers support UNLV and UNR and make your work possible. One would conclude that the unwashed masses are not competent to comment on the support UNLV receives, but are expected to support it. Show some respect for us.
Turr-
What said was out of respect. One of points I was making is the lack of respect for higher ed based on the un-educated comments. I only ask that folks get the facts before making assertions - those end being the beliefs perpetuated in society; unfortunately many are not true. In my 10+ years as a prof I've never worked less than a 40 hour week, most often 60+ hours to get my research done - like many assisstant and associate profs do. I do appreciate the fact that you and others are involved in the converstation, it just hurts my feeling and upsets me when I read these comments that just simply not applicable to many of us. And please know that I was not being disrespectful, just simply asking for people to get the facts ... :-)
Also, I pay the same taxes you do.
Are you people even listening to yourselves? Your attacking education? You're attacking researchers? Do you even understand what research across this country does? Medical breakthroughs, new energy forms, improving technology, understanding mental illness and how to counsel addictions, creating entrepreneurship and new business! You're ridiculous!
Do you think the forward movement of mankind is a fluke? Do you think the research triangle in North Carolina or cities like Austin, TX, are some of the most sought after locations in the country for Fortune 100 business for their weather? They have MAJOR universities producing an educated workforce and providing vital research. Are you truly happy maintaining a state that pumps out dealers, bartenders, and valets by giving them a rock bottom K-12 education and no opportunities beyond that?
Professors make higher salaries because they went without salaries for years getting their Masters and Ph.D.s to better communities and societies.
And before everyone screams I'm a professor - I'm not.
Nevada has got to change their mindset. That's what this article is referring too. Higher education is willing to make cuts - they're willing to streamline. The Chancellor hasn't said they're not nor has he denied that things can be done better. Every entity on Earth, public or private can always do better.
What NSHE is not willing to do is be the fall guy for a state government unwilling to make the long term decisions Nevada needs. And it's just not higher education, cutting prisons, cutting mental health services - it's all ridiculous! No one should stand for any of it. You reap what you sow. You get back what you put in.
Everyone references how companies streamline... well they also increase revenue too during restructure. You can stay stagnant on your income and just slash and burn to meet a bottom line! When bills are tight, don't people find 2nd jobs? They're increasing their INCOME!! Not solely pushing their refrigerator off a mountain so they don't have to buy groceries any more... But maybe if some of you went to college and studied Economics and Accounting, you'd get it.
@T-2-4:
I feel your frustration.
The point I think you are trying to make is that UNLV is a research university and people may not know that this is not an ivory tower where most sit idle and pontificate. Rather you and most others are required to work long hours under pressure as do many of us.
In this environment there is great deal lot of work necessary to obtain funding (probably not just state $$) for your research and then to publish this work. In addition to your research you probably have to teach, advise students, serve on disseration committees and participate on faculty and other university committees.
There is a tremendous value to research and teaching institutions. We should think hard before making cuts.
behappy:
You left out the fact taht this is a tourist state and the principal source of management bench strength comes from the Hotel school at UNLV. Without the research it does, the graduates the school generates and the consulting of the faculty, our tourism industry would slip into second rate status from its perch as number one in the world. CAn you imagine what that would do to the tax base and local employment as Harrah's and MGM decide to look elsewhere to invest in new properties?
btw, for every dollar spent directly on research, the school gets an additional $.025 to $0.35 or more to apply against its overhead. So the more research that is done, the more those grant dollars act as a subsidy of the cost of maintaining the university.
The problem here isn't whether research univerities are necessary or critical, the problem is that there is a vocal minority of the electorate that scares the media into believing that everyone is rabidly anti tax. We are the lowest tax state and the 2nd or third worst in terms of giving our corporations a free ride. And yet most of the nation (including the ones with high business taxes) are in recovery and we are foundering with a one horse enconomy that makes us the envy of most 3rd world countries.
They're already dumping their investment money elsewhere, Macau for example. Why? Profits. Why fight the sliding trends here? No jobs, too much competition and likely rising taxes from ~7%.
49 stars and a black hole.
For want of a nail...
No schools, no new business, no gambling or mining tax, no income tax, no legal pot to tax, teachers leave, roads crumble, black hole. with crabs
Patrick;
Conversely, isn't it just as lazy to keep saying
"tighten the old belt another couple o' notches, folks... we seem to be out of cash again, and we don't have a clue how to figure this out."
More funds for education is NOT the only answer; but it IS an essential ingredient.
Fosimmons, you da' french man!
T-2-4, You embarrass me as a fellow professor. Unfortunately, many professors seem to think that it is acceptable to call others "uneducated" and therefore unable to comprehend how valuable professors are. People like you do not deserve your six figure salary when you think that you are above others. Students deserve respect.
Further, you post the link to the salary list: hr.unlv.edu. Most professors DO make more than $100k/year. If someone downloads the spreadsheet and sorts the data around and computes the average salary, it is high. So do your research instead of posting a bogus claim.
Finally, there are many people that can do your job. There are thousands of professors in U.S. and the world. You are not a rare, elite breed. Get over yourself.
Finally, IMO, the majority of UNLV research sucks and that is backed up by national rankings!
Get over yourself. You aren't doing UNLV a favor by posting here.
nevadaappleslices,
Please, illucidate as to your department and functions as a UNLV Professor.
nevadaapleslices,
Not sure what you are embarrassed about? Stating a fact about others not being educated on a topic is just that - stating a fact - I'm not calling them bad names or being derrogatory - unlike you. Most profs I know are more concerned about professionalism, something you appear to lack - never would I pass criticism my collegues research like you did. I don't have a 6 fig salary, a little over 70k. I have looked at the six fig salaries, most are Full profs as I stated earlier. All salaries are public info., so what's to hide? And what is your assertion I claim to be some elite? Sure others can do my job, no doubt - but not without a Ph.D. Why don't you consider your own posts before passing judegement on others ... from what I can see, other readers aren't finding yours to be too constructive.
Hey T-4-2 Appleslice is dead on with his comments about you. As an outsider as far as not working in an educational institution, but in industry, Apple is right about your elitist thinking, it comes out in your posts. Get over yourself. From what I can read into here, you study the paylists and try to justify in your own mind that you deserve the same 100K that others are receiving. Well, I'm here to tell you, all that education in the real world does not get anything unless you produce. You can wave all your credentials around that you want and without accomplishing anything, you will not have a job very long. You for one really need to get out of your ivory tower for at least some period of time and see what the real world is all about. Also, try and take an economics class so you understand how the real sworld operates - try the section on profit and loss.
Brown -
It is interesting that you apple both use bullying tacktics to make it look like your making a vaild point. Again, I'm just stating the facts about basic job requirements. I was in the "real world" as you for 20 years before higher ed., so your assertion here is ignorant as well, has absolutely no merit and simply untrue. And I do believe my current salary is what I should be getting, but again your bullying tactic is to make up false info to make it look like you have a vailid point. So, keep making false assertions about others combined with your bully tactics, seems that is why you are alignment with apple - bullies attract bullies. In the mean time, I will continue to state the facts and let others decide for themselves. By the way, I run my consulting bussiness, so I still operate in the real world and certainly understand economics.
Now I understand your position - you can't use spell check and you have to suppliment your consulting business with teaching as if your product is as bad as your post above, I understand why you need two jobs. And, please, stop with the whinning already. Your the one name calling and your the one crying so please spare me the "lecture" about being a bully. Wah, Wah, Wah, all the bullies are picking on me - get some kiwis.
T-4-2 Remember the old saying, "Those that can, do, and those that can't, teach, or in your case, consult"
Brown -
Yes, I forgot spell check - forgive my big flaw. Again, bully, bully, bully ... so much easier than having a rational debate. You can level all of the insults at me that you want (which reflects your charter ... instead of attacking mine, why don't you work on your own), the point still stands ... UNLV & UNR have a primary mission of research - yes, teaching is part of that too. Community colleges are primarily teaching institutions. But go back to my points the Turrialba so nicely summarized in the above ...
T-4-2 You want a rational debate - you got one. Please, explain to me what am I'm missing. If the "primary" mission, as you state, is for research, why are tax dollars going to the institution under the guise of being for higher education? I do not believe that the tax payers of the Great State of Nevada want to support research with their tax money, especially during these economic times. I will agree, research at many times by universities has discovered many wonderful things, but all too often, that reseach has not produced anything except someone getting a doctoral degree that only benefits the person getting it, not the taxpayers that helped pay for it. I'm all for reseach and development, but it should not be funded by taxpayers unless its for the betterment of the masses as a whole, not just to satisfy someones' own personal gwest to obtain a PhD. Its time that these universities that are on the taxpayer dime, use those funds for education and if they want to do research, they need to find another method of funding that research, not through paying profs' salaries that only teach part time and research full time.
you can nickel and dime this until the cows come home. you have two options: raise taxes and keep what you have OR get the axe out and start cutting back.
there is a third option, dipstick - raise tuition (although this is could be construed as a very narrow tax and unfair tax that favors the wealthy).
tuition and fees @ UNLV = $4,500
------------------
tuition and fees @ UC Merced= $8,411
tuition and fees @ Arizona State = $6,334
tuition and fees @ Rutgers (NJ) = $11,886
tuition and fees @ Hawaii = $7,168
You might also like to check out how Australia deals with funding the private and public benefits of education (basically the government gives a loan that is only repaid when a student earns above average wages - i.e. when they start receiving a private benefit from their education).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_ed...
Brown - Ok, good. Glad we can have a rational debate here ... First, let me say I partially agree with your point about some of the limitations of research endeavors - they don't always produce significant results; but, that is what research is all about, trying to find new and significant discoveries, new knowledge, etc. So, yes there are limitations that are not always cost effective. But, if research wasn't being done at all, how would we advance as a civilization? And when new discoveries are realized, it does benefit the masses - beyond those getting Phd's. Also, a lot of research is supported by outside funding sources, and due to contractual obligations faculty cannot just stop the research.
Second, there is no "guise" about higher ed - virtually every state in the union has the same system regarding higher ed and the community college system: community colleges and universities each have a distinct mission and function - look at the Carnegie classifications for information about how they are structured: http://classifications.carnegiefoundatio...
Finally, take a look at the budget update information the UNLV president has posted: http://www.unlv.edu/budget/ You will see a number of efforts to respond to budget shortfalls amounting to millions in reductions and savings going back 3+ years now. I can tell you my class sizes have more than doubled in number due to elimination of class sections as a result of eliminating part-time instructors (side note " we faculty gave back 12 of our merit in 2007, and all merit has been suspended since -- what about AIG, BoA, etc). I don't understand your comment about teaching part-time? Faculty members do have full time teaching loads; yes, it doesn't always amount to as many classes (3-4 vs. 4-5) as community college professor, but again they are not responsible to research -- we are, it is in our contracts. Again, the point is a contractual difference between the two entities and subsequent responsibilities and obligations.
T-4-2 I understand the contractual obligations of research funded by outside industries - my company funds such research - that there are deliverables and timelines that are expected to be met, and this outside work helps the univ. pay its bills and keep the lights on. I'm talking about the tax payer funded, pie in the sky, research that the average person would never understand why we are spending money on that subject. I would think that the average person does not know that their taxes are being used for research and not for teaching. As you are a part of acadamia and I'm not, how much tax payer money is used for things other than teaching ? As far as your full time statement, 3-4 classes for a prof, to me that is part time work. K-12 teachers put in more actual hours teaching than that and they have prep work, test corrections, etc without an aide to assist them. I think its high time we took a hard look at our education systems and made the public totally aware of what their tax dollars are going to support. 3-4 hours of work for 100k and the rest of the time spent on "research" seems like a good gig to me, especially if there are no defined deliverables attached to it.
Brown - Not 3-4 hours, 3-4 classes vs. 4-5 classes required in the college system vs the university system. No doubt there is "pie in the sky" in some areas, but again take a look for yourself at faculty vitas then tell me what you mean by "pie in the sky."
As far as comparison to k-12 teachers, it may not be "apples to apples" comparison ... but I will says this, I teach 3 classes (90+ students in each) per semester and have no teaching aid. I do have to create a syllabus, set up the WebCampus portion of the class, meet with students and teach each of the 4 hour classes each week during the semester, grade of their assignments, etc. Now, if you have ever taught a university class, you know how much time it takes; and if you haven't ... well, I invite to come shadow me for 1 semester and see for yourself.
As far as taking a hard look at the higher ed system, YES - please, I am all for it. I want you to see how hard most of us work, and how many hours we put in, etc. (yes, there are those take advantage of the system - and they are NOT looked upon favorably by those of in the system that work hard, let me tell you. Would I like those folks to be identified and held accountable, absolutely!) Deliverables? There most certainly are ... for every grant that I have secured, the deliverables are more than any other industry.
Bottom line again, you have some beliefs about higher ed -- mostly likely based on a few who take advantage of the system -- that doesn't reflect the majority. Again, it is just very unfair to the rest of us that do work hard, and meet the obligations of our contracts.
behappy-- some of us have obtained some higher education in economics and accounting with a degree in mathematics...Anyways what degree do you hold,, if any...I would like to say that anyone does not need a degree to see that some institutions waste money on research and for what does this research benefit.. Does it benefit all citizens or does it only benefit those who did the research...Thats like saying 4 out of 5 dentists prefer,,,so the fifth dentist came up with his own answer why he didnt agree.. So whos research is believable and who really cares if it does not benefit all people...So wasting money on research that could be used on anything that is needed more is a total waste on anyones part with a right mind...
T-4, pick a story and stick to it. Saying that you are a professor AND have time to run your own consulting business ... sounds like you SHOULD have a furlough since you aren't busy enough as a professor that you have an outside venture for extra work.
apple - if it were full time I would agree with you. Only in the summer do I take on any extra work. Come by my office some time, you'll see me there every day.
There is nothing I am more sure of in life than the fact that nevadaappleslices is not a professor at UNLV. Does anyone out there believe for a second he/she/it is a professor?
Can't our elected representatives try to come up with better budget solutions than butchering the funding system of our schools and universities depend on, forcing major layoffs, and cutting vital health care services our handicapped citizens and others need for their very existence?
How about taxing major corporations?
It's been stated over 300,000 companies incorporated in Nevada pay no taxes on corporate income and enjoy many other favorable business laws and benefits enacted by the legislature over the years. It's been stated all states have a Corporate Profits tax except Nevada, Washington and Wyoming. The corporate profits tax in is between 5% and 6.9% in neighboring states
If Nevada had a Corporate Profits Tax, the revenue generated from Nevada's hundreds of big chain stores would help greatly to close the budget shortfall.
When is the legislature and governor going to face up to the fact that our 30 year tax system based on "don't raise anyone's taxes" is dysfunctional and in need of a serious overhaul. It's a major factor our current budget mess?
Wow T-4, you really take the summer off? How do you advise your graduate students if you are not at work every day in summer? Do you not have external grants that you need to fulfill? External grants yield overhead that supports the university. I guess that you are not contributing to "overhead" as research professors are supposed to do. How do you maintain your status as a world class researcher if it occupies so little of your time that you take the summer off to run your own business?
appleslice - If you were a prof at UNLV, you would know ... 9 month contract were all on. If you were interested in a constructive dialogue, I would continue with you ... but, you are only interested in being a bully.
Yes, I know that it is a 9 month contract. Are you really a professor? In all seriousness, I wonder this because it is common knowledge that you continue your scholarly activities in summer and fund your summer months out of external research grants. You aren't going to be as successful in your research if you say that you only work 9 months.
Oh, apple - Yes, of course - without teaching 3 classes there is enough time in the summer to do 2-3 consulting jobs and continue my research, writing, editiorial board service, etc. Which, by the way, this work is in-line with my research and has led to further funding opportunities. If you were a prof you would know that many of us consult for that very reason, to network and develop new research opportunities.
You remind me of a client that I once had long ago, lacked proper nurturing as a child - never held, cuddled, etc. - and grew up angry at the world, acting out his anger by being highly critical of others, dominering, and abusive - a big bully just like you. Part me feels sorry for you apple, at some level I know you just can't help yourself - too much unresolved anger, you poor thing.
I think what alot of people are misunderstanding is that UNLV/UNR are NOT the only schools that are going to be affected by these budget cuts. ALL state supported schools will feel the heat of these budget cuts. CSN and NEVADA STATE COLLEGE (the newest addition to NSHE) are being recommended for closure here in Clark County. These two schools alone offer an alternative to UNLV high tuition costs. I'm not bashing UNLV, but I'm just trying to make aware that UNLV is NOT the only school that will be affected by these budge cuts. WHile these budget cuts will only close down some of these programs at UNLV/UNR, it will SHUT DOWN NEVADA State COllege, CSN, and other communities colleges in the state.
PAtrick (I see you are either a proud supporter of our retarded governor or you work for him)- Raising tuition or eliminating teaching positions/departments will not meet the demands of this budget crisis. Why are we debating about education? I mean really, do people think that education isn't important or vital to our society or lives as individuals? We complain about how people on welfare or public assistance suck the money out of our wallets, but yet your ready to kill a vital tool used for helping these people to become independent of the state. If you allow schools like CSN or NSC to close you are definitely sealing their fate to remain on state support until they die or move out of this state. There is a reason why Nevada is continually ranked dead last in almost all surveys and statistics. And yes, I will continually blame our lame governor until he actually gets up off his butt and do something that's remotely productive for this state.
I don't ask that any of you to agree with me, but look at the bigger picture in this budget crisis. Killing education in this state is not the answer to this budget crisis, because once you kill that you can best believe there will be 100 other issues that will result from it.