Dear Sedona Eye readers,

Please read the following note we received from the ASU Foundation.  It concerns disproportionate funding for ASU and NAU compared to UA.  They are requesting a four-year monetary phase-in to bring these two schools up to speed with UA.  Since it involves the state budget, we can’t do much to help as out-of-state tuition paying parents but you can by writing your elected officials and placing something in the Sedona news about this important issue.  We’ve been avid readers of the Sedona Eye since visiting Sedona with our son.

Many thanks,

I write to inform you of an important state funding issue related to Arizona’s three universities, and to ask for your support in a request the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) is making to the state legislature for the 2013 state budget.

The Arizona state legislature has directed the three state universities, under the jurisdiction of ABOR, to recommend a funding structure that addresses the issue of per-student funding disparities among the universities. The disparity is historical and based on historical differences in mission that no longer exist.

Arizona State University last year received nearly $900 less in state funding per student than the University of Arizona, while Northern Arizona University received nearly $760 less per student than UA. In fiscal 2011, UA received $6,598 per full-time student in state funding, ASU received $5,702 and NAU received $5,840.

ABOR has delivered the study and is asking the state legislature to phase in additional funding over five years, beginning in fiscal 2013, to help ASU and NAU catch up with UA on a per-student funding basis.

The regents are requesting $15.3 million in unearmarked money in fiscal 2013, with the rest phased in over four years. Now, we need to urge the state legislature and governor to approve the funding.

The change could eventually bring nearly $60 million more annually to ASU and $16.5 million more to NAU. UA would not lose or gain any funding under the proposal.

I urge you to join us in letting your elected officials know that you support the parity funding request from ABOR for ASU (and the other universities) to be included in the state budget for 2013.

Thank you for your continued support of ASU.

Sincerely,

R.F. “Rick” Shangraw, Jr., Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer ASU Foundation for A New American University

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