CHANGING FOCUS FROM BIG BUDGETS TO SMALLER BUDGETS

posted by Michael Chihak

The Arizona Board of Regents is meeting today in Tempe for a work session "on budget and related issues," according to the agenda.

The three university presidents will present to the board information on the budget reductions they have put into place for the last three years and discuss the expected impact of the proposed reductions for the next year.

That's based on Republican Gov. Jan Brewer's proposed budget calling for $170 million in cuts to the budgets for the three universities.

Included in today's discussions will be how the universities will handle tuition increases and at what levels for the coming year, assuming the governor's budget cuts.

Additionally, the regents and the presidents will discuss continued differentiation of the missions of the three universities, speeding up consolidations and other cost-saving measures.

We will focus Friday's Arizona Week on the topic, hoping to talk with at least one member of the Board of Regents and a University of Arizona dean with the academic and educational perspective. We will assemble a panel of expert journalists to analyze and comment on the issues.

Meantime, in this space, we will provide links to relevant information, including news reports from today's Board of Regents' work session.