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Opinion
Nov. 23, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NEVADA VIEWS: Community can't afford more higher education cuts

By JESSICA LUCERO and ADAM CRONIS
SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL

For the past year, students have been affected by Nevada's poor economic climate. Higher education system Chancellor Jim Rogers has spearheaded the call to oppose any further budget cuts, and for that we, the students, are grateful -- not only to Chancellor Rogers, but to his family as well.

While he has been writing memos and making calls to policy makers, it would appear that the students have been apathetic. However, this simply is not true. We, UNLV's student leaders, have been doing extensive research. The conclusion we have come to is simply this: UNLV cannot afford cuts of the magnitude proposed.

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    • With each day drawing Nevada nearer to the 2009 legislative session, students are beginning to lose faith in Nevada's commitment to education. The term "student" implies a separation from Nevada workers who contribute valuable time, energy and money to this state. But the truth is we're workers as well. In fact, as members of this community (some of us are Nevadans), we care not only about our education but about this state as well.

    Unlike students at other state universities, UNLV students make up a diverse, hardworking and motivated student body. A great majority of students balance their class schedules and work full time. We have to because the university has been underfunded by the state for decades.

    Students pay tuition, of which two-thirds goes directly back to the state. We complain very little because UNLV has always been able to offer classes at flexible times. With current cuts, UNLV has already lost 500 classes, which has prevented students from getting into the classes they need to graduate. The magnitude of future cuts is on a scale that will drastically hinder students' ability to graduate on time. This delay will cost students and the taxpayers (of which students are included) even more money and productivity.

    At UNLV, graduate students make up 21 percent of the student population, and we are affected in a different way than our undergraduate counterparts. A typical graduate student will work for the university on an assistantship. This assistantship comes with a monthly stipend and partial tuition waiver. While this might seem perfect, graduate assistants make only $10,000 or $12,000 a year -- quite below the poverty line.

    Graduate students serve UNLV in the following capacities: We take courses, work on research projects with our advisers, some of which bring in additional revenue for Nevada, like the Urban Sustainability Initiative. We also teach 100- to 200-level classes with enrollments of between 32 and 150 students per class, which with future cuts will only increase. Or worse -- future cuts could impact our assistantships. Without assistantships, many graduate students wouldn't be able to continue their education.

    In response to double-digit budget cuts, UNLV's undergraduate and graduate student leaders meet weekly with student leaders from the College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College. Recently we created budget-cut tombstones in order to make the student population aware of just how dangerous these potential cuts will be.

    Future cuts will affect tuition. Generally, students understand that increases in tuition are a result of inflation and/or increases in service, but if tuition is raised even higher in order to make up for the state's deficit, students won't be able to afford going to college, nor will students take kindly to paying more for a decrease in service.

    Even more than the threat of a high increase in tuition, UNLV will be forced to cut programs. That means that anyone in that major will potentially have to transfer, which means Nevada will risk losing students to other more affordable programs outside of this state.

    If the students leave, so does Nevada's educated work force. Anyone who wants to see Nevada diversify its industry will have to kiss that dream goodbye.

    UNLV already benefits Nevada. A recent study conducted by the Center of Business and Economic Research explains that for every dollar invested in UNLV, $4.50 of economic activity is generated. An investment that yields revenue is in the best interests of Nevada.

    We, the students, would like to call you to action. Write to your legislators and demand that they not hurt Nevada's potential for a diversified market, for a prosperous economy and for an educated work force. Ask them to continue the long-term investment that this state originally made in funding higher education, because it is this investment that will yield long-term dividends in both economic and human capital.

    Jessica Lucero is UNLV's graduate and professional student body president. Adam Cronis is student body president of the Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

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    Antonio wrote on January 21, 2009 11:00 AM: Since childhood, I've always had a dream about going to college and becoming the first person in my family to graduate a from a university. Since high school, I've dreamt about getting a degree in Computer Science. With these budget cuts, my dream will be severely impacted, perhaps even shattered!

    Well, if it's anything that I've picked up from all of the Japanese anime I've watched, it's that when you have a dream that means the world to you, you fight for it to your last breath! And that's what I'm gonna do! I'm heading to that rally tomorrow and I'm going to fight to keep my lifelong dream alive! I hope that everyone can come and support this; support my dream, your dream...the dream of the students of this great university!

    Sure, one person may not be able to change the world completely, but I'm going to just stand back and go down with out a fight! Onward! ^_^


    unlvrealist wrote on November 24, 2008 04:20 PM: I hate to say it (in fact I'm ducking) but college is *NOT* for everyone. Only the competent and elite should be enrolled. And those who see value in taking out Stafford Loans to finance their educations are the ones who should be there. The ones who are cost conscious and looking for handouts are the ones who shouldn't be there. Unfortunately UNLV is full of the latter. Up the tuition and weed them out!


    douglas wrote on November 23, 2008 07:51 PM: a diploma is a commodity. recipients of those diplomas should pay for them. if the diploma isn't worth the cost then it is a poor investment.

    should the neighbors buy me a diploma ?

    if a student buys a diploma and doesn't use it, then it sounds like a poor investment.

    if a student buys a diploma and earns more than he/she paid for it, then it was a good investment.

    the spin about entrepreneurs who have or do not have some degree has zero to do with whether or not other citizens should pay for it.

    if i'd have a child and wanted to better its lifetime earning capability, guess i'd save for its continuing education. and i wouldn't demand of the neighbors to support or pay for the child's education.


    patrick wrote on November 23, 2008 04:20 PM: douglas:

    Do you seriously believe that the value of an education, for either the recipient or for society at large can be measured by what the recipient is "paid" during his lifetime after receiving the degree against what the degree "cost" in terms of tuition?

    I mean, I know LOTS of people who receive degrees and decide to be entrepreneurs and then make nothing, I also know attorneys or doctors that become businessmen who then make billions, does this mean that society got screwed if their tuition was the same?

    I mean...get real man.


    douglas wrote on November 23, 2008 02:19 PM: again, purchasing a diploma from any institution should consider the value received. if the cost of a diploma exceeds the lifetime wage enhancement, then that facility is overpriced. so it is with any purchase.

    otoh, if the costs, the tuition and required books/materials are less than that resulting lifetime wage benefit, then the fees are too low.

    what the fees ustabe or what they are elsewhere is unrelated to the net value for the product of any institution.

    students/recipients should pay for what they receive. taxpayers, the neighbors, the "village" shouldn't pick up the tab to enrich another. otherwise taxpayers should reimburse auto techs, many of whom have tens of thousands of dollars invested in tools and cabinets.


    Joe wrote on November 23, 2008 01:57 PM: point #1 Our Presidents salary is subsidized by private means, meaning that the actual cost to UNLV is relatively low.

    point #2 You cant double tuition overnight. You cant expect students to pay more just to recieve the same or even less of what they have been getting.

    point #3 I dont think people realize that when a student pays his/her tuition, all the money does not go to UNLV, a LARGE poition of it goes directly to the State Bank Account. Money paid by students to go attend school is being used to build schools and roads... and your solution is to simply "charge more!" It doesnt quite work that way. If the univeristy could charge more and keep all the money, Im sure they would have very little trouble going with that argument. But currently if UNLV raises tuition, the extra cash just ends up in an account left to the discression of Gov. Gibbons! Im sure he's really got our best interest in mind.


    JohnyDark wrote on November 23, 2008 11:02 AM: Sure they can afford just one more cut,THE NUMBER OF THE ADMINISTRATORS AND ASSISTANTS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS SALARIES AND PERKS.Then only the people that truly have the students interest at heart will still be there for the students.


    douglas wrote on November 23, 2008 10:58 AM: what is the lifetime wage enhancement for one with a diploma from the college relative to the current cost to the student ?

    no different than were one to invest in some residential solar array, the cost to the purchaser should relate to the benefit.

    just picking numbers out of the air, if the tuition and book costs are $50k and that translates to a $100k or more additional, lifetime wage, then it seems to me that the tuition is underpriced.


    Marcus wrote on November 23, 2008 10:57 AM: Finally, some students put their English classes to work and speak up for their own futures. If students at UNLV weren't so apathetic for decades, the future of higher ed in Nevada wouldn't be in the hands of drunks, political hacks and hot air balloons from the old Vegas aristocracy, casino execs, and random dudes who fill out the paperwork to be Regents. Better late than never, I guess.


    gunowners4obama wrote on November 23, 2008 10:00 AM: Some of you need to understand that there is not an endless supply of grants, scholarships, and loans out there. It is a travesty that a supposedly first-world country leaves intelligent, hard-working people out of the college loop, or at colleges that are below their skills levels. No wonder we have so many morons and greedy, privileged pigs running government.


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