Perry’s Texas to leave UH with budget crunch

The outlook for UH is not one that is optimistic. The outlook is even worse when you consider the entire Texas education system. Recently, the state budget deficit has been estimated to be close to thirty billion dollars. A budget cut that big will undoubtedly affect UH greatly.

All of this comes at a bad time. UH is still behind their goal in accomplishing flagship status. Tuition costs have risen every year since the early 2000s and the national rankings for UH have nothing to show for it.

The worst part of it all is what doesn’t make it into the headlines. At UH many programs are potential targets for being cut and some University staff fear more furloughs.

Layoffs and cutting programs isn’t the way to keep enrollment high during tough times like these. The more layoffs there are and the fewer specialized programs there are, the less attractive the campus becomes to not only students but also to potentially talented professors. These professors and students are the backbone for all the Tier One hype you hear about.

With Rick Perry’s victory of a third term as governor, the reality of Texas education sounds considerably different from the upbeat successful tone of his campaign. The Texas economy might be stronger or more resilient than some, but that by no means applies to education.

Texas has become dead last in the category of high school graduation rates, according to statemaster.com. It also ranks 35th in percentage of people who have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Much of the worst has yet to come and that is partly due to the fact that some statistics have not yet been released. Likewise, there is no telling how low Texas can fall in other rankings while our current governor ignores the problems throughout our education system.

While the leader of our state is off signing books about being fed up with the government and Washington, educators across the state are worrying about what might be around the corner. The Texas economy that Perry so joyfully campaigned on isn’t completely energy driven.

The reality of the Texas education system is one that many people are beginning to see as failing. The importance of our top leadership conveys the idea that Texas is content with the education system we have, which isn’t true. The more budget deficits and furloughs there are, the more fed up Texans will become with their anti-Washington governor.

Andrew Taylor is an economics senior and may be reached at [email protected].