13 WTHR IndianapolisCommission outlines public university funding cuts

Commission outlines public university funding cuts

Rich Van Wyk/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - Indiana's public universities are learning precisely how much money they will lose to state cuts. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education released recommendations that will affect more than 300,000 college students.

The governor had already warned state universities to expect $150 million in funding cuts because of the state's financial crisis. He put the Commission for Higher Education in charge of deciding how to divide up the pain. It's not being shared equally.

In figuring up how much each university will lose, the commission rewarded universities with high graduation rates, and punished those already receiving higher than average funding per student.

Indiana University's cut comes to nearly $59 million or 5.8 percent. Purdue is losing $45.5 million, 6 percent of its funding. Ball State's reduction is just over $15 million, a loss of 5.5 percent.

The biggest cut, about 6.6 percent ($10.5 million) went to Indiana State University.

Ivy Tech community college fared the best, with a cut of about 3.5 percent - about $12.5 million.

"We think it is important to say that we do not believe that the budget reductions will require an increase in tuition and this is based on our calculations and based on our discussion with university leaders. We don't expect that tuition increases will be necessary," said Teresa Lubbers, commissioner for higher education.

The commission has a list of recommendations ranging from reducing personnel and health insurance costs to reducing low priority academic and athletic programs.

State universities are already cutting costs through salary and hiring freezes. The recommendations go to Gov. Mitch Daniels, who calls it a "thoughtful, fair and tailored plan." In a prepared statement, he thanks universities for helping "produce new efficiency in higher education and avoid any new tuition increases."