<p>Here in Nebraska, there's a government act trying to be passed that would put a cap on government spending. If this goes through, student tution would jump 57%. This would affect every public school in Nebraska (U. Nebraska system). Maine and Oregon are attempting to pass a similar program.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nebraska.edu/news/issl.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.nebraska.edu/news/issl.shtml</a></p>
<p>
[quote]
The university’s state appropriation for 2007-08 would not increase by 3% even if that is the amount allowed under the lid. NU would face a budget cut of more than $4 million in 2007-08 and an additional decrease of $5.7 million in 2008-09.</p>
<p>Over the next biennium, if budget cuts and planned salary and program increases were balanced solely by tuition, tuition would increase more than 30% in 2007-08 and an additional 20% in 2008-09. (Chart 1)
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</p>
<p>Colorado passed this a few years. Tuition went through the roof there and CU was talking about trying to go to private status for awhile. No way they could but they were letting their feelings be known.</p>
<p>Since then the voters suspended the law in Colorado. We are voting on it in Montana as well. Fortunately here the courts have struck it down due to problems in signing names in the petition process. We still have to vote on it though as it was appealed to the supreme court and will not be heard until after the election.</p>
<p>Should I transfer schools if this passes through? 1) I'm not willing to pay 57% as much in tution esp since I'm OOS. 2) Many students will leave the school because of the tution hike. Thus retition rate falls at a large rate, and a lot of the top students no longer return(top 10%)=Loss in USnews rankings. November 7th is when this is voted on. In the worst case senerio, lets say this passes. Can I still get accepted to other schools despite how late in the year it is? I'm only a freshman here too.</p>
<p>As drizzit points out, this law had a devastating effect on colorado, already low nationally on per-student spending on the college level. They lost a Nobel prize winner over it, they lost job candidates over it, oos applications went down, classes/majors were cut, class size went up. Lower education suffered dramatic cuts, with districts having to choose between fixing roofs and cutting teachers. It's going to take years to recover from these financial setbacks.</p>
<p>FWIW, I doubt that OOS tuition would go up by such an extreme amount--OOS tuition was less subsidized by state funding anyway.</p>
<p>I think it's too early to worry about transferring--you don't know how all this will shake out. My guess is even if it passes, you'd have a year before you started really seeing the effects in a way that impact your education. You could start the transfer application process next semester, or next fall.</p>
<p>To put it in perspective, the tuition rates at UN are currently about 13% less than the UCs and the housing is way less - about 46% less. This makes the cost of attendance almost half that of attending a UC. I consider the UCs a bargain for the quality of programs offered. </p>
<p>When states reduce their subsidies of colleges, I think it's important that the colleges raise tuition rates to retain high quality programs and professors. It'll cost those attending more but they'll likely still have a bargain compared to equivalent privates. The worst case scenario is if the subsidies are reduced and tuition not raised resulting in program and quality cuts.</p>
<p>Kinglin - here's a list of agencies and organizations who oppose 423, and those who support it. From everything I've heard, I don't think this is going to pass. from notinnebraska.com some pretty big names on the list, ones with a lot of constituents and sway in the state.</p>
<pre><code>Nebraskans for the Good Life
Coalition Members
10-26-06
AARP Nebraska
Agricultural Builders of Nebraska Inc.
Alzheimer's Association Midlands Chapter
Alzheimer's Association of the Great Plains
American Council of Engineering Companies/Nebraska
Associated General Contractors – NE Chapter
Building Strong Families Foundation
Catholic Charities
Center for Rural Affairs
Center for People in Need
Epworth Village, Inc.
Friends of Public Health of Nebraska
League of Nebraska Municipalities
League of Women Voters of Nebraska
Lincoln Central Labor Union
Lincoln Firefighters Association – Local 644
Lincoln/Lancaster County Human Services Federation
Municipal Fire Chiefs Association
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Nebraska Chapter
Nebraska AFL-CIO
Nebraska Assisted Living Association
Nebraska Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations
Nebraska Association of Commercial Property Owners
Nebraska Association of County Officials
Nebraska Association of Public Employees Local 251 (NAPE-AFSCME)
Nebraska Association of Public Employees Local 61 (NAPE-AFSCME)
Nebraska Association of Retired School Personnel
Nebraska Association of School Boards
Nebraska Chapter National Association of Social Workers
Nebraska City Management Association
Nebraska Council of School Administrators
Nebraska Comm. College Assoc. Council of Presidents
Nebraska Farmers Union
Nebraska Fraternal Order of Police
Nebraska Health Care Association
Nebraska Hospital Association
Nebraska Iowa Primary Care Association
Nebraska Library Association
Nebraska Medical Association
Nebraska Music Educators Association
Nebraska Nurses Association
Nebraska On The Move
Nebraska Professional Fire Fighters Association
Nebraska PTA
Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association
Nebraska Rural Health Association
Nebraska Sheriffs' Association
Nebraska Speech Language and Hearing Association
Nebraska State Conference of the American Association
of University Professors
Nebraska State Education Association
Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter's Association
Nebraskans for Research
Nonprofit Association of the Midlands
NOVA Therapeutic Community
Omaha Police Union
Omaha Together One Community
Service Employees IU #226
Sierra Club Nebraska Chapter
State Troopers Association of Nebraska
Students Against 423
UNO – American Assoc of University Professors
Voices for Children in Nebraska
Women Involved In Farm Economics
YMCA of Greater Omaha
OTHERS WHO OPPOSE INITIATIVE 423
Association of Students of the University of Nebraska
Eastern Nebraska Human Services Agency
Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln Board of Education
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Bankers Association
Nebraska Cattlemen
Nebraska Cooperative Council
Nebraska Farm Bureau
Nebraska Grain and Feed Association
Nebraska Independent Community Bankers
Nebraska Petroleum Marketing
Nebraska Realtors Association
Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Nebraska State Home Builders
Nebraska Telephone Association
Nebraska Board of Regents
Nebraska State Board of Education
Omaha Chamber of Commerce
Region 6 Governing Board
South Platte United Chambers of Commerce
UNL Faculty Senate
UNL Graduate Student Association
UNL Progressive Student Coalition
UNL Residence Hall Association
UNL Student Alumni Association
UNL University Honors Program Student Board
Governor Dave Heineman (R)
Nominee for Governor, David Hahn (D)
Groups Listed as Supporting 423
Committee for State Stewardship
Western Nebraska Taxpayers Association
Nebraskan Taxpayers for Freedom
Lincoln Independent Business Association
</code></pre>