Dear,
Fellow PTK members,
The
Zeta Omicron Chapter is leading an effort to protest the 7% budget
crunch that is affecting us all. The following is a letter concerning
the Texas budget crunch that will continue to affect the higher
education system for years to come. Phi Theta Kappa is an international
honor society made up of the boldest and the brightest that the
community colleges have to offer. We have an obligation to stand
up for what's right. This is why our chapters must join together.
There are fifty community college districts in the State of Texas,
which educates more than one million students. Governor Rick Perry,
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick
ordered the seven percent budget cut. The cuts would cost two-year
colleges a combined $64.3 million in state funding. The cost to
international students will raise 12% for next year! And if any
of you are planning on attending the University of Texas or Texas
A&M there is a bill, that has not passed yet, that will allow
these schools to set their own tuition. This is not a good thing.
Please read the following letter and sign individually the roll
sheet. This letter is going to be sent to the Governor, Lt. Governor
and the House Speaker. Please further research this issue and how
it will affect your own colleges. The following website will help
aid you: WWW.TACC.ORG
Governor Rick Perry
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst
House Speaker Tom Craddick,
The
following letter is attached with a petition of the signatures of
the Phi Theta Kappa honor society of the two-year college. Our honor
society is greatly concerned about the budget crunch. The budget
crunch may affect some students more than others, directly or indirectly.
The bottom line is that all will suffer from this pinch. Not all
community colleges are as fortunate as others. As you all are aware;
many are raising taxes, others are cutting their workweek, unessential
as well as some essential travel, putting off plans for expansion,
all are raising tuition, and even more drastically cutting the faculty
numbers. Times are already difficult, with our slumping economy;
now with the State of Texas unloading this extra burden upon us
affects all students. It's unfair that Comptroller Carole Strayhorn
waited so late in the fiscal year, which for most colleges starts
in September, to inform the institution of higher education of this
budget crunch. You are asking for 7% from what the colleges had
at the beginning of the school year. The State of Texas had to know
for some time that it were in trouble. The $9.9 Billion revenue
doesn't easily get unnoticed.
The
Government doesn't understand how this budget crunch does, indeed,
trickle down and Impacts College plans for students. Choice of a
particular college will be jeopardized. The students of today are
the leaders of tomorrow, and places to cut are not to be found in
the institution of higher education. Many students who had planned
on attending college this upcoming fall will have to refigure their
own budgets, and many may have to put off dreams of higher education.
Enrollment is soaring and now college administrators have to cut
costs while accepting these new students. Without the budget crunch
it was difficult enough to keep up with the increasing enrollment.
Students are going to be turned away and recruitment efforts will
be halted. Greatly needed expansion will also have to wait. Many
students work full time; have families, house payments, car payments,
and other expenses. Even the smallest increase in tuition will hurt
those who are trying to better themselves. It is obvious that with
an educated work forces, comes a flourishing economy.
We
are pleading with you. The students' point of view has not been
heard on this issue. We feel that it is very important.
{The
signatures}
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