Southeast president laments rising tuition

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With reductions in state spending for higher education, Southeast Missouri State University's president told lawmakers he is worried some potential students eventually may be priced out of an education.

Dr. Ken Dobbins made his comments Tuesday while testifying before the House Education Appropriations Committee, which will determine how much state aid Southeast and other universities will get in the next state budget.

In years past, Dobbins' appearance before the panel would have involved lawmakers asking him to justify requested boosts in Southeast's state appropriations. However, these days schools are just hoping to maintain funding levels approved for fiscal year 2003, which ends June 30.

Gov. Bob Holden has recommended keeping Southeast's appropriation at $45.3 million for FY 2004.

Because of the current situation, Dobbins' testimony focused on the impact the state's budget problems have had on students and the university's efforts to continue fulfilling its mission.

During FY 2001, the last year Missouri was on solid financial footing, student tuition and fees covered 33 percent of the actual cost of a Southeast education. With budget cuts forcing tuition hikes, students now bear an all-time high of 41 percent of the total cost.

Dobbins said Southeast raised tuition only as a last resort but said there was no other choice if the integrity of university programs was to be preserved.

"If you want to have quality education, you can't have cheap education," Dobbins said.

Hard budget times have traditionally led to higher costs for students, Dobbins said.

From FY 1982 to FY 1983, students' cost burden jumped from 14.5 percent to 20.5 percent. That burden increased from 29.4 percent to 34.1 percent from FY 1991 to FY 1992.

Even amid rising tuition, Dobbins said Southeast's enrollment for the current school year hit an all-time high of 9,534 students.

However, he warned that could taper off if the school can't maintain quality standards. For example, he noted that computer and science lab equipment at many area high schools is superior to that available at Southeast because of a lack of funds to invest in upgrades.

Several committee members praised Southeast for its efforts to control costs and noted it remains one of the most affordable universities in the state.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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