College funding revamped to lessen disparities

The Clarion-Ledger, 4/17/8

Ole Miss will get an additional $1.9 million in funding next fiscal year while Delta State University will lose more than $175,000.

It’s the first step of a six-year plan to reduce inequities in state funding among universities, the state College Board said Wednesday.

“It took us a while to get in this situation we’re in, and the institutions that are most adversely affected – in the staff’s opinion – need some time to work out of it,” said Aubrey Patterson, chairman of the Budget, Finance and Audit Committee, which presented the plan to the board.

Next year’s cuts are small and could mean not filling open positions. University leaders have not determined what the financial losses will mean for their campuses long term.