Nixon talks tuition freeze, Access Missouri during MU address
Gov. Jay Nixon offered some reassurance to students Wednesday that the tuition freeze agreement he made with university presidents earlier this year would stay in place.
Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee decided to cut $14.9 million from the higher education budget. This breaks the agreement Nixon had with university presidents to not raise tuition in exchange for stable higher education funding.
Despite this action by the committee, Nixon said, in an address to local business leaders at the Reynolds Alumni Center, universities should be rewarded for stepping up and taking a budget cut early on.
“I will do everything within my power, and I don’t that consider that power insubstantial, to make sure that we live up to that deal that strikes the balance we need,” he said.
Chancellor Brady Deaton said MU would move forward on tuition prices for the next year with the freeze in place. He also said students shouldn’t fear a tuition increase happening.
“I think we’re all aware that the national economy and the state economy is going through some real trying times and I suspect most families, being prudent, are making plans accordingly,” he said. “Really that’s the best all of us can do at this time.”
These remarks came as Nixon reiterated his plan for “right-sizing” state government.
“That’s what this blueprint is all about,” Nixon said. “Refocusing priorities and doing fewer tings, but doing them more efficiently, effectively and with greater accountability to taxpayers.”
In addition to discussing the tuition freeze, Nixon elaborated on his proposals to cut the state budget.
The plan includes many cost-saving measures aimed at bridging the state’s $500 million budget gap. Many of the points he made in front of alumni, faculty and students were similar to the proposals he introduced in Springfield about three weeks ago.
During his remarks Nixon also clarified his stance on Access Missouri Scholarships. In Springfield, Nixon said the state couldn’t continue to subsidize the choice to attend a private school.
Access Missouri scholarships are need-based and state funded. Public school students can get between $1,000 and $2,150 and private college students are eligible for $2,000 to $4,600 per year from the program, according to previous Maneater reports.
At the time, spokesman Scott Holste confirmed the governor wanted to do away with state-funded, private university scholarships.
On Wednesday, the governor supported efforts underway in the state legislature to equalize the amounts and not get rid of private school scholarships entirely.
“Needy students deserve the same level of support, no matter where they decide to go to college, and I applaud the change,” Nixon said.