SCHEV survey shows student concerns about budget cuts

They're worried about the burden that rising college expenses are putting on their parents, and whether their younger siblings will even have the opportunity to go to college.

Their level of financial aid might be the same, but it no longer covers all their costs. Many have jobs to help out, but as colleges cut course offerings they're finding it more difficult to make their two schedules work.

Those are some of the concerns that students at Virginia's public colleges and universities expressed in a survey by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to gauge the effects of multiple reductions in state funding.

The survey puts "a face on the ways in which you are suffering," SCHEV Executive Director Daniel J. LaVista told a committee meeting of university presidents yesterday.

He said the survey of both students and university finance officials found similar concerns that the quality of higher education is eroding and the system is at the "tipping point."

Of about 200 students included in the survey, 77 percent said they have seen a reduction in the availability of classes. Students and administrators expressed tremendous concern that this trend will affect the ability to graduate on time.

Kirsten Nelson, SCHEV's director of communications and government relations, said she was touched by the students' worries that the rising cost of their education was becoming a burden to their families. Nearly three-quarters of students surveyed expressed such concerns. Some feared their parents would not be able to make mortgage payments.

Students also said that cuts in administrative staff have made it harder to get the timely delivery of financial aid even when the level of aid was adequate.

But they also had more basic concerns about just finding a place to study as universities cut library hours as one way make ends meet.

Nelson said students pointed out that residence halls and cafeterias are too noisy to concentrate.

"They're saying, 'When you reduce library hours, you reduce my study time.'"

Contact Karin Kapsidelis at (804) 649-6119 or .