JACKSON - The dean of Mississippi Valley State University's School of Business and Professional Studies says a lack of state funding has put his program's accreditation at risk.
Dean Dae Lee said a shortage of teachers has left classes overpopulated. Some classes have 65 students, but accreditation standards of the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs set the limit at 30, Lee said Tuesday.
"If we keep doing this, they're going to take our accreditation away," Lee said. "But we cannot turn the students away."
Representatives from the state's public universities were lobbying lawmakers at the Capitol on Tuesday, appealing for more funds.
The state College Board has requested $647.4 million to operate the eight universities for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It is an increase of $167.2 million over the current fiscal year.
Gov. Haley Barbour's budget proposal for the universities is a 5 percent reduction and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee's plan reduces funding by 12 percent, said Bill Graves, the College Board's deputy assistant commissioner of finance and administration.
Roy C. Hudson, Mississippi Valley's vice president of university relations who also doubles as an instructor in the fall, said the universities use appropriated funds to pay faculty salaries, scholarships, and purchase equipment and supplies.
"We're lean. We're trim, but if you keep trimming that fat, you're down to the muscle and bone," Hudson told Rep. Gary Staples, R-Laurel.
College leaders may consider a tuition increase to make up some of the shortfall.
"I don't know how many more years we can stand a 30 percent increase in tuition," said Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville.
But with the state's budget in financial straits, Holland said it would be unrealistic to promise the universities more funding without a tax increase.
"And that's what it's going to take. And I'm for taxes," Holland said.
Graves said the College Board is gathering information from the universities about the impact that further cuts would have systemwide. The data will be presented to lawmakers, but Graves isn't holding out hope for increased funding.
"At this point, we're just hoping we can keep what we have," Graves said.
Valley's plight stands out.
Hudson said enrollment at the Itta Bena school has grown over the last six years, from around 2,300 to more than 4,100.
Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, said the funding formula for Valley is based on a campus population of 1,800 and has not been revised as the university's enrollment grew. He said that means Valley's portion of the universities' budget is about $3 million to $5 million less than it should be.
Jordan said lawmakers want to work with the College Board to revise the formula.
Representatives of Delta State University, located about 50 miles from Valley, promoted the Cleveland school's contributions to the state.
Michelle Roberts, executive assistant to the president, gave lawmakers pamphlets touting DSU's educational partnerships with school districts in the Delta and its music institute.
She said Delta State also is streamlining.
"We're looking at programs, trying to shut down buildings, and in the worst-case scenario, looking at staffing," Roberts said.
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