the state education in southern Arizona

a conversation calling for change is a
crisis

we are an absolute crisis for not just
education before our economy

for the success of our community propose
cuts to higher education

what it could mean for struggling
students any

increase in2ition it just it would be
hard hit

to stay to stay in school this

is airs on a week

hello and thanks for joining us will get
to those proposed budget cuts in just a

moment

but first a time to talk about what many
describe is an education crisis

here's a medic you sick from the United
Way of Tucson

in southern Arizona

so man if you would tell us a little bit
about the collective impact process

which

is a big title but how would you
describe it to people who are at home

watching this and wondering

was just me absolutely it's really about
bringing together

multiple sectors ever community just saw
a really complex

complicated social issue and so for what
we're up to now is using the collective

impact model to improve educational
outcomes for children

and not just that one grade level but
really looking at the whole spectrum

from a child that time a child is born
all the way until they are ready to

ensure their career

if you would describe what is the issue
with education in this particular

community

I mean that this thing there isn't just
one issue it's really complicated

and first and foremost we can separate
the effects of poverty from

educational outcomes for children and
let's face it our community is a low

income community and with that come a
lot of issues around

family stressors a high percentage of
children in the foster care system

kids just not having the resources they
need to come to school

healthy well dressed and ready to learn

and so when we look at improving
educational outcomes

surely there will be things that will
wanna start doing during the school day

most if it is making sure that kids have
the supports they need

outside of the classroom oftentimes

skeptics will look at this model and say
it's another media

it's another discussion people coming in
from around the country

to analyze what's wrong in this
community so how do you encourage people

to understand it this is a step

a baby step albeit but a step in the
right direction absolutely

and frankly than the stairs at

I hear them I there's been a lot of
efforts in our community

a have meetings and then the follow-up
just hasn't been there

I'm I say to them that's no reason to
give up

what else are we can detail and when I
look at this model and I see it working

in other communities

I know that we can do it here and why I
feel that this is

going to be successful as we've re: got

the right leadership in place

who supporting it and Lillian to sustain
it and take action immediately following

this

this big meaning that we're having we
have a roadmap basically

how to organize ourselves based on
what's worked in other communities

and really it isn't about having
outsiders

come in and tell us what we're doing
wrong and that were awful and all those

things

it's quite the opposite we have a lot of
amazing programs

here we have some really amazing schools
we need to do is start

being able to articulate are those thing
so amazing

where those small pocket some success
happening look at it

open it up figure out how do we scale
that up make sure

every kid has access to all those
supports that make them successful

it sounds like there's a lot at stake
here if they're really passionate about

being part of that

solution really care about education

there's one thing all have to do. and
thats remove blame from the conversation

for too long our community

and in fact the nation has blamed

the k12 system for its failures

or we blame parents for not being

at as participatory in their child's
success and we blame

we point are fingers at everybody else
and really

if things are going to change the
community has to

be accountable for all its children not
just one sector of the community

this is about the juvenile court system
working in partnership with

the public health system with the foster
care system

with K-twelve with early childhood
educators with higher

add with philanthropists with the
faith-based community

all of us taking away blame

and also not ever having to take credit

for I'm you know an individual agencies
efforts while they may be great

when we focus so solely on the credit
that actually excludes others from being

apart

other solution and scaling up to work
and so if we can remove

lehman also remove credit to a certain
extent

I think we'll get a lot farther in the
process

like to attend the community interactive
next week log on to our website

easy p.m. dot org for more information
moving on now to the governor's proposal

to cut state funding to higher education

an estimated seventy five million
dollars from

arizona's three universities the Arizona
border regions met this week in Tucson

here's vice chair J Hiler

five million is only the governor's
proposal there's an entire legislative

budget process that has time for that
number could move in either direction

and so a there's a long way to go here
this is a long way from over

and no one knows exactly where it's
going to end up at the end of the

process

how would you describe the situation
thus far at least the discussion the

conversation you're having

while the situation is dire the

the state isn't difficult fiscal
circumstances all its policy leadership

is left to deal with those circumstances
and it

puts a very high demand on creativity

vision wisdom a I don't think that

there is a great deal with them in
cutting deeply into Arizona's higher

education structure

it's already been cut substantially the
last time the statement through this

several years ago

and so I think they have to tread very
carefully in

in how they go about doing that this
time as I pointed out yesterday

arizona's universities are not
government programs

their complex institutions that deliver
very concrete benefits in a highly

competitive environment

and that environment does not stop

for Arizona's particular set of
circumstances and difficulties

and so what our policy makers need to
understand

is the impact if the decisions they make
on the ability of these universities to

compete in the continue to fulfill their
constitutional mission in their state

focused a value proposition for the
people of Arizona

had other numbers actually play out we
heard from students today her concern

that these cuts will trickle down

to their pocketbooks well a ultimately
of course

such cuts do trickle down if you want to
use that term

the I I think the the people that the
legislature most need to hear from

are the moms and dads who have to raise
a family

in Arizona I spent a lot of my time

in government service in my life

life and in in in trying to lead the
development of public policy for our

state and my touch tone throughout all
that time

was to make Arizona one of the best
places anywhere to raise a family

I think that's a really good frame to
keep things in

raising a family in Arizona requires

access to high-quality affordable state
university system

I have five kids of my own they are all
so far

accessing that state university system I
i understand.

the perspectives deeply love the
families of our state

I came to Arizona myself as a student

to attend one other state universities
in 1978

and so I feel deeply the importance of
these institutions to the state's future

I feel deeply the importance love an
affordable high-quality

university system to raising a family in
our state which is something that should

be valued very highly

by our legislators under Governor and I
know it is valued

but I'm not sure that they quite
understand the nature of their decisions

at this stage at this juncture

on the ability of these institutions to
compete

and if they can't compete they can't
deliver for the public

earlier we heard press incline describe
the relationship with

the Legislature's tenuous would you
agree with that

I yeah I don't think that I would reach
for that word

a I think the context were in currently
is obviously coloring everything which

is the state is devoid of money

a to sustain existing budgets

it's so a in time to such scarcity

everything becomes tenuous a and so

everybody is searching for words to
describe how they feel

about the present difficulties at the
end of the day

how anybody feels doesn't really matter
what matters is

the the ability to raise families

in Arizona and the ability of a mother
and father

to plan for the future of their children

and to bring that future in the clear
view

for them so that they they understand
what it's going to require

and and that everyone can have a vision
for working out their future here

and so that's really how I that that's
the context in which I think about these

issues

and and so the legislature is in a
difficult spot

a and there really isn't much to be
gained by sitting around

casting aspersions at them what's
necessary is to try to make them

understand the impact

their decisions

Eileen Klein is the president of the
Arizona border regions

she said the board is trying to work
with the legislature

but describe the relationship is tenuous

so we're at a different point I'm and
the relationship between the state and

the public university system

think maybe in days past was almost
taken for granted that universities

would be funded and it was understood

with the value proposition is that
higher education and

it's clear that we have a new generation
of legislators who have

multiple competing demands for general
fund resources

and that public universities have to
make the case about why

a higher education needs to be a
priority for the state of Arizona and

funding from the state general fund

you down said cuts are in fact coming
it's not something that you were

expecting

we're asking that they be minimal at
this point how realistic do you think

that request is

so our request have the reductions that
we believe are eminent

they be kept proportionate that
universities not because

disproportionately

and with respect to other parts the
state government budget

unfortunately public universities are
one of the last

remaining areas %uh the state budget
that are that's not protected by either

voter mandate or constitutional
protections even though we are

constitutional entities

so it winds up leaving the universe is
in a place where there

almost the first choice now are the
first option policymakers

go to you and we want to reverse that we
want to make sure that the funding for

public higher education

is respected and that certainly in the
short term is the state has some

challenges

we recognize some reductions must be
made but they can be outta proportion

and likewise as the state budget begins
to grow again universities need to be

included in that funding supports was
revenues come back

we need to see additional funds provided
to the public universities

there is no way we can achieve at the
update objectives

around economic growth and

opportunities for all individuals if we
don't have a strong public higher

education system

what is the plan moving forward may be
immediately and I say that the next year

so

so immediately our goal is to work with
policymakers to make sure that the

budget reductions are kept to a minimum

so its its not so much that the 10
percent

represents an enormous hardship
certainly tough choices will be made the

challenge with the ten-percent proposed
budget cuts

are that they come on top of already
having lost over four hundred million

dollars

in state revenue over the past several
years and ultimately that has resulted

in some very painful cautious to
students and to their families

it's simply not sustainable so in the
short term the point is to keep the

budget reductions to a minimum

to make sure there aren't limited
duration and that the university

leadership has the flexibility

to implement the cuts in a way that will
be at the least amount of harm to

students

at the same time the border regions will
be evaluating tuition proposals over the

next several months

and working very hard to make sure that
tuition doesn't

doesn't become the backstop for the
state's fiscal challenges

today you heard from some other student
primarily graduate students talking

about how

if this continues as it is they won't
have these opportunities in the future

so it's certainly an enormous concern
about

what the budget cuts will be on students
and I think sometimes when people think

they're cutting universities

sounds very very they're sure they think
they're cutting institution

the reality is that our universities are
made up a faculty

and our students and today we heard some
very impassioned pleas from students

to make sure that the budget reductions
didn't impact their opportunities to

have work study

to make sure that the impacted and keep
them from getting the classes they need

to graduate and to make sure that the
cuts don't result

and tuition increases we have students
who

explain to that it it may just be you
know $10 more per cent or just the

latest cut but ultimately that cut may
be the one that keeps them from

continuing

that's the last thing we want to see so
I was pleased that students were

invigorated

committed and we need them to service a
foundation of a call to action for our

state to start rowing around public
higher education

how do you ensure to those students that
yes we heard you

and we are doing something about it so
we have

increase actually our student engagement
overall with the Board of Regents and

throughout the spring

we're making sure that our student
government leaders have time

before the border regions to really talk
about the quality of life for students

we have dedicated

hearings around tuition and then
ultimately we're going to range from so

some other opportunities to sit down in
here from the students

importantly as the university's go
through the exercise at determining how

reductions will be made they will be
reaching out to our campus community

stakeholders including our students

so that their voices can be heard in
this process

the University of Arizona may take up to
a $21 million dollar cut from the state

senior vice president for academic
affairs and provost

Andrew Comrie says regardless the
university's mission

will continue

we're on

concerned that these cuts are not going
to you would like which Chris is invest

more in higher ed

that said we understand that the state
and the governor have

big challenge and we're prepared to do
our part we like to do only a part in

that more than that of course

and then what we're gonna do is do
things that we've done in past budget

cuts

but the spirit behind that is too
invests really in

the things that we our best that in our
core activities you know we have we have

couple are really basic jobs one is
we're going to turn out the best

students we possible can we have to
teach and educate

and then we have to create knowledge we
have to discover stuff that's our

mission is to use to produce knowledge
that that will that will release a drive

society forward

so every on every financial decision

frankly with its a cut or its investment
is always made in that light

and will do the same here so the
students were here today they may be

listing your comments and say

how do you keep on with the mission will
making such significant cuts who ends up

picking up the tab if you will

so i'm good news for the students and
many than others cuz

as you know last year we put in place
the the tuition guarantee which we're

very proud of and we do intend to
continue with

in fact a at this meeting other whatever
reasons we announced that we actually

gonna try to put in a guarantee for the

mandatory fees as well so that if you
come in as a student our current

students as applies to for example the
freshman class is here

they come in they're not pay no matter
what happens with the budget they're not

paying

send more in tuition for the entire
duration there four years here

they stick with the same price the whole
time that are guaranteed to them

and we're very proud that because the
times like this that's when you might

worry and you don't want to attend a
university where

perhaps you get surprises year-over-year
on you're on a tight budget

that can make a difference for families
so we're particularly happy that we can

offer the guaranteed to students and
that will continue next year and the

year after and so forth

their families though who are preparing
to send their children to college in the

coming years

and may be wondering what will those
figures look like when I'm

to send my child of so what are you
telling those people

so you know the letter concerned about
cuts right now people like to

look at the numbers and to make a direct
correlation situation the fortunate

thing is that

a tuition is not completely in directly
correlated to

to overall cuts the budget we're gonna
look at everything we do

on the administrative side on the
academic side everything the university

and make sure that we are saving as much
money as we possibly can there

you know this morning at the border
regions many we outlined how we're able

to save

almost five million dollars in IT costs
by

by by moving the movie due out to the
cloud we've saved

a millions more in physical
infrastructure by doing some smart

things

with their facilities and so forth will
try to do more those kinds of things to

reduce the impact on the university
budget

and therefore to preserve are core
activities

which is you know educating and
discovering do you foresee layoffs in

the future

it all depends on the nature of the cuts
and at this point it's really too early

to tell the current

budget talk is really the governor's
proposal it still has to make its way to

the legislature before we get

a a final decision on what are cuts look
like we of course hope that those are

going to be

hell to a bare minimum because we think
but an investment tired of course is the

way to really make the state prosper in
the future

so even in the face of budget cuts there
is room for growth

last year and this year again on the
border regions a

offers up suggested policies that might

ultimately turn into bills some %uh
those are about investing in

and more faculty or in research
facilities that can help us

you know a place to put faculty who will
attract a more

more support to the state of Arizona and
we would love

as soon as there is a moment in the
budget to do that for two

to make those investments because the
course that's the investment will grow

the university even stronger

even quicker

for many cuts to higher education means
across-the-board

increases to tuition and fees for
students here's Arizona public media

Sandra westall

up it's upsetting it's not something
anybody wants to hear but it's not

necessarily surprising either

am it's been kind of this trend the past
couple years that

it's been just getting further and
further cut usually

its followed by oh we don't have enough
money so we're gonna raise your tuition

see you can cover it

I'm here trying to get a higher
education and be able to contribute to

the world

and they're making it more difficult
more likely the cutting all come out of

students pockets so now what be more for
tuition I can are they boarding now

pairs in israel where states in the
entire country for education

if you have to cut it's a terrible place
to cut from the idea

going up even more it sounds just
horrific

students are going to be more dead than
it used to be in the last several years

arizona's three universities have taken
at $400 million cut in state funding

I sicker take every percent the you the
student body

first thing I thought it was while its
22

roughly a million dollars at are going
to have to take it out

some way somehow from our students
wetherbee through tuition

or whether it be through the services or
academia they come to expect receivers

our students feel those cuts probably
more than anyone

students like 21-year-old Mercedes
colours to

you'll the junior I pay for college

through the you serve the Pell Grant
provided by

the government and then less than half
is paid for

by University Grants I'm also pain it
through bonds

now I I was trying my best to not take
out loans but

you know it ended up having to do it

so was kinda like a situation where
either I stay in school

and take out that loan or drop out

kinda wasn't what I wanted my freshman
year

it would cover my tuition and I would
always have like maybe four hundred

dollars left over

five hundred dollars to like use on book
but apparently was different this year

I had even less money and

to cover for tuition definitely not
getting that little

extra money back last semester with was
hard

going to college is something that's
almost seems like a dream

to especially to Seans in struggling
families like I came from

so far my experience here at the UN has
been awesome

just cuz I'll I love school but its it's
not anything near

what it's like in the movies for me make

the path that I made life and right now
I am

you know the caretaker my family and a

unfortunately my mom can't work right
now so

up to me to take care my my mom and my
sister

so and I had to pick up multiple jobs
well

cool full-time you after every paycheck

have I'm lucky over thirty dollars a

have that goes to gas and then

whatever is left over is kind of carried
on for another two weeks until

I get paid again

many times I've I felt like it would be
just

easier by drop out and find a full-time
job

you know pays better than minimum wage
to help support my family but

and then I I think alike I I want to be
that person that

my sister looked up to you and my
nephews and my niece is look up to you

keep

countries I kinda just came here and
figured things out on my own so

I kinda wanna be that person for them
help guide them

I'm also a mentor for and middle school
kids

challengers so I can't how can I stand
to them and

and say yeah go to college you know
continuing education if I

don't do that myself if it's really that
important for students to go

to college then why is it still
unobtainable

for some students why not invest money

and

and education because as they say you
know the students are the featured

I know you know upsetting because

you know people like me we we want our
education we want to learn were here to

learn

number I'm I mean the students that if
they

continue with the budget cuts and
increasing tuition it's gonna be almost

impossible only for you know the scene
into

have the money to pay for it it'll just
be it

a dream for those who can it'll just be
something

unreachable for them

Sandra westall here with me now she's
joined by reporter Vanessa barchfield

both here dares in a public media lady
think

thank you so much for being here let's
get right to sandra in the story

Mercedes and

this painful decision she may have to
make in the near future

she said right mercy this is definitely
a student here that is

struggling as she told me that to spend
a lot of time

at that universities libraries because
she doesn't have internet at home

she currently doesn't have a cell phone
because he cannot came down to her being

able to pay the bills

or having a cellphone herself as so

you know any any kinda cut to her and
her grants for tuition increases

definitely something that will make a
big impact in her live stances

really living off a less than thirty
dollars every other week

oh and it first-generation to go to her
to go to college

and an essay you spoke with students
yesterday in the graduate program who

are

are watching this very closely because
they have a lot at stake as well

yet of course so a a large group of
graduate students actually came to the

abortive regents meeting yesterday and
spoke during the public comment section

spectacle 15 minutes if I end up going
thirty because so many

where their to express their frustration
for the

they're asking for a living wage is
there they're frustrated

about the next round a potential cuts
that are happening to university funding

I'm and they feel like they're not
involved in the budgeting process

okay and sundress some people may watch
Mercedes story in wonder what's next for

her she's a junior she studying

Italian she wants to continue her
studies after graduation

right yes you heard in this story she
really really love school in

she said that at education is something
that she

owns it's hers no one can take away that
she's learning here in college

and her dream is really to continue
school if thats

if that's possible for her to two years
down the road to go to graduate school

interest in anything that she mentioned
in the piece she's also a mentor

to students on the south side of Tucson
and she tells them that

how can I encourage you to go to college
drop out myself so she's got a lot at

stake here

and Vanessa students that you I'm spoke
with yesterday you saw they also got the

attention one other regions in
particular

they're planning a trip to the state
capital next week yep at the graduate

student councils organizing a trip

up to meet with and several legislators
both Republicans and Democrats lead to

have their

chip express their opinions on cuts okay
and as we heard region eilers a lot more

to come on this no

timetable and no real numbers answer

alright ladies thank you so much sounder
West after your story about Mercedes

that's a partial for your report in
tears in the border regions

all right now it's our program thank you
so much for joining us from is here

Arizona public media them