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