Overhaul of proposed education budget is unlikely, admin say

A funding model based on the number of full time and full-time equivalent students was proposed during a House Budget Committee meeting March 9.

 Currently Missouri funds public universities through the base plus model. This model starts every school with a base amount of money and adds or subtracts funds from that base for every higher education institution. 

The full-time equivalent model would count enrollment by every 15 credit hours instead of every student. This means 5 students taking 3 credit hours would be counted as one full-time equivalent student. An example of this would be a high school student taking a dual credit class. 

If the proposal were to pass, Truman State University would lose a significant portion of their total funding from the state.

President Sue Thomas sent an email to faculty March 10 which addressed the proposed funding change, and why it is not an imminent threat.

“The proposed change has already been met with bipartisan opposition and is very unlikely to become a reality,” Thomas wrote. “The 12 community colleges in the state have voiced opposition, as have multiple other four-year institutions, including Truman and the University of Missouri.”

The cut would reduce the total revenue of the university by roughly 20% and would cost Truman State University over 25 million dollars in state appropriated funds. Of the University’s total funding, 41%  of the budget comes from the money given to the University by the state. 

The change would also reduce the total amount of money given to higher education institutions, from 15.4 billion to 15 billion, removing 420 million dollars from the education fund to other projects.

The money used in cutting education was originally proposed for construction projects, general revenue and the 57 foundation, a fund that is used to educate people on the life and legacy of former governor Mike Parsons.

Sophomore Kat Owsley said she’s afraid that if the bill is passed, she will have to face a larger burden financially for her education.

“I came to Truman because financially, it was the only choice that made sense,” Owsley said. “So seeing this proposed is really frightening. I’m worried about what is going to happen with my scholarships. What’s gonna happen with my education. My friends’ education.”

Thomas said that there is currently no reason to be worried about the proposal but understands the concerns of students. 

Recently the bill was amended to not fund the 57 foundation but instead funds be used for an anti-abortion pregnancy center in Cape Girardeau.

Thomas said although the funding cut would hurt the university immensely there is a plan in place if it were to pass and she does not foresee that happening.

“The University has strong financial reserves,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the university has plans in place, despite the low chance, in case of the budget proposal passing she is prepared to encourage students, faculty and staff, Kirksville residents and anyone in opposition to the bill to petition the Missouri Government to voice their opinion.

Currently the Missouri Government is on their spring break but will return to further discuss the proposal in the Missouri House of Representatives on March 23.