Devasting cuts proposed for higher ed

Tallahassee, Florida -- Presidents from 10 of the 11 state universities cried for help from Florida's Legislature.

They said the proposed budget cuts would be simply devastating. In fact, if the currently proposed cuts were approved, every university would shrink in size by about a third and they may have to close every branch campus.

"If some of the worst scenarios that are being played out, come to pass, this is Armageddon for the state university system," said Florida International University President Modesto Maidique.

University presidents also said, of the 45,000 state university employees, 15,000 could lose their jobs.

"Jeopardizing our future by failing to continue to invest in higher education in this budget is not the path to a bright future for our students, for our citizens or for this business community," said Dr. James Ammons of Florida A & M University.

These presidents hope state lawmakers will secure as much money as possible, take advantage of the federal economic stimulus money, and secure as many federal matching grants as possible.

"The point we're trying to make today is just how serious the potential impacts are going to be on higher education in the state of Florida," said Bernie Machen, President of the University of Florida. "We're not only the provider of the 4-year degrees of the state, we're also the lengthy economic development of the state and we have been working very hard to help the state prosper in the last decade."

According to presidents from some of the state's universities, here's how the cuts would affect different schools and staffing:

University of Central Florida

• eliminate 25 academic programs
• eliminate 3 colleges
• layoff 330 faculty
• layoff 200 staff employees

FAMU

• layoff 250 employees, including faculty and staff
• layoff all adjunct professors and temporary staff
• furlough entire staff for 6 months
• close programs and limit course offerings
• increase tuition and fees each year

University of North Florida

• President Delaney said UNF already turned 2,000 - 3,000 students this year that would have otherwise been accepted

USF

• eliminate college of arts and sciences

Some colleges are taking suggestions from students and faculty as to how they think they could fix the budget problem.

Higher education leaders urge students, faculty and Floridians to contact their local lawmaker to voice their concern.