CUT HIGHER ED AND 'MORTGAGE OUR FUTURE AS A STATE'

posted by Michael Chihak

Arizona Board of Regents' Chair Anne Mariucci's message is crystal clear:

"You cut into the bone of the higher education system, and you mortgage our future as a state."

Mariucci made the comment in an interview for Friday's Arizona Week, airing at 8:30 p.m. on KUAT-TV 6 in Tucson and at 10:30 p.m. on KAET-TV 8 in Phoenix.

Mariucci said she and the regents will work hard with the three university presidents to keep tuition increases to a minimum and financial aid to a maximum as they continue driving the universities for change and greater success in graduation rates.

The diverse missions that the three universities have been working on for several years are showing progress as each finds a niche in the higher education market for Arizona, she said. An accountability system that will measure freshmen retention and graduation rates and the numbers of community college transfers will help ensure continued progress, Mariucci said.

See her interview, the perspective of University of Arizona College of Science Dean Joaquin Ruiz and the commentary of three journalists on Friday's program. Mariucci's complete, unedited interview will be available for viewing at azweek.com Friday night.