The State newspaper - Posted on Thursday, Feb. 02, 2006


USC asks state to restore millions
Clemson teams with university to request millions for teacher recruitment, research, more
By JAMES T. HAMMOND
Staff writer

USC asked the Legislature on Wednesday to restore $18 million that Gov. Mark Sanford wants to cut, and to add $6 million to recruit professors and conduct research on the Congaree River.

The faculty recruitment program, a six-year initiative with a $4 million price tag, has been funded from tuition increases for the past two years. USC vice president Rick Kelly said if the Legislature does not fund it this year, $85 to $100 in additional tuition per student will be necessary.

Clemson University also is facing the need to replace about one-third of its faculty over a five-year period. Clemson president James Barker is asking for $4.8 million for his schools faculty replacement program for the coming year.

In an exercise in cooperation unique in the states higher education history, Barker and University of South Carolina president Andrew Sorensen have been meeting together with legislative leaders as they seek to stop a long-term trend of shrinking state financial assistance.

Both presidents point to Kiplingers Personal Finance magazines recent rankings as evidence the schools are providing value for their students. Clemson is no. 24 and USC is no. 31 among the Top 100 values in public colleges.

If this states support is not forthcoming, and if there is a tuition cap placed on the universities, you will not see us on some of these quality lists a couple of years from now, Barker said.

Students are getting into the act as well.

Tommy Preston, treasurer of the USC Student Government, said he and other student leaders at USC and Clemson oppose proposals to cap tuition.

We believe the General Assembly should fund higher education more. Tuition caps will cap progress of the university. To get the best education, we are going to have to pay for it, Preston said.

Preston, who was present at Wednesdays legislative hearing on USC funding, said he and other student leaders intend to let the Legislature and the governor know how they feel.

Both Clemson and USC are seeking to boost their rankings and reputations nationally. But to meet their academic goals, tuition at both institutions has spiked annually by double-digit percentages for several years.

Sorensen said Wednesday his goal is to keep next years tuition increase less than 10 percent. But he said the level of state assistance, currently at 21 percent of total spending, will be critical to determining a level of tuition that will sustain the universitys faculty recruitment.

Sanford has called for a tuition cap on state-assisted colleges, and has proposed cuts in assistance totaling about $22 million systemwide at USC. For 2005-06, USC received $138 million in state funds.

Joel Sawyer, the governors spokesman, said the college presidents are missing the point of caps.

We need to force efficiency on our colleges so we get more coordination in how we spend our higher education dollars.

Our schools should be able to produce a better product at a lower cost.

2006 The State and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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