Nixon proposes Access Missouri restrictions
The cut is one of many aimed to lower state spending.
Published March 12, 2010
The debate in Jefferson City about award amounts for Access Missouri scholarships for public and private universities could be irrelevant if a plan outlined by Gov. Jay Nixon becomes a reality.
The Office of Administration announced in a news release Thursday the state budget for the next fiscal year would have to be cut by $500 million. To do that, Nixon proposed several solutions, including restricting Access Missouri funding to public university students.
"Missouri has wonderful colleges and universities, both public and private," Nixon said. "But in times like these, we simply can't continue to subsidize the choice to attend a private school."
Access Missouri awards need-based scholarships to college students who go to either public or private schools. Students at private colleges can receive anywhere between $2,000 and $4,600, and public university students can receive between $1,000 and $2,150.
This year, the state legislature is considering several pieces of legislation that would make these award amounts equal for both institutions.
Nixon spokesman Scott Holste confirmed the governor wants to do away with Access Missouri funding for private school students. In the past, he supported equalizing the amounts.
In another proposal, the governor wants to combine the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with the Department of Higher Education. Nixon said this would create one department that guides students through pre-school to graduate school.
The idea received support from Missouri Department of Higher Education Chairman Robert Stein, according to a news release.
"Centralization of administrative functions — such as equipment, vehicles and data gathering — could certainly result in savings," he said in the release.
Many of these cuts would require the state legislature to change the law, Holste said. Nixon wants these changes to begin as soon as possible.
"He is laying out his plan for a refocused government that is smaller and more efficient," he said.
The fiscal year in Missouri begins July 1.
Comments (3)
12:25 p.m., July 15, 2010
Alex said:
I agree partially with Anonymous because private colleges are harder to get into and do provide smaller class sizes so students are able to get to know their teachers more intimately BUT at the same time no one is forcing you to go to a private college. I go to the University of Missouri in St. Louis and it has a large student body but the majority of teachers here allow students to come in during their office hours to get that "one on one" time with them. Oh and we have an Honors College which offers students smaller classes in a more intimate environment. So I'm sorry that public universities have a reputation of being big and clunky, it doesn't change the fact that your education is what you make it. If you want to be a number, you're a number and vice versa. Oh and Private school students have no "right" to public state funds. No school has a "right" to state funds. The fact that we can even go to college and have it partially subsidized by the state is a gift, not a right. Again no one is forcing us to go to college. By signing up and going, we are making a commitment out of our pockets to pay for it because it is a privilege and not a "right."
8:07 a.m., March 24, 2010
Anonymous said:
This is ridiculous. "But in times like these, we simply can't continue to subsidize the choice to attend a private school." Nixon needs to just be quiet about this. He obviously has no idea how hard students work to get into a private college. They are harder to get into and smaller. It means the students can get more one-on-one time with the teachers, which means they can get better help if they need it. I'm not sorry that I want to get the best education possible, and for me, that does not mean going to a public school. Private school students have just as much right to state money as public school students.