Contact: Scott Holste, (573) 751-0290
Channing Ansley, (573) 751-0290
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 17, 2014
During visit to Truman State University, Gov. Nixon discusses funding for higher education and college affordability
Bipartisan defeat of Friday Favors will allow Truman State and other public universities to freeze tuition for Missouri undergraduates
KIRKSVILLE, MO – Following the successful effort to defeat a package of special interest tax breaks in the legislature last week, Gov. Jay Nixon today visited Truman State University in Kirksville to discuss college affordability and the importance of investing in higher education.
“By the end of this decade, two-thirds of all jobs will require some sort of college credential. That’s why we need to put a higher education within reach for every student, and make sure those students don’t graduate with a crushing burden of debt,” Gov. Nixon said. “I appreciate the bipartisan work by the General Assembly last week to join us in keeping higher education affordable for Missouri students and families.”
After proposing a significant funding increase for Missouri’s public universities in his Fiscal Year 2015 budget, Gov. Nixon called on those institutions to freeze tuition for Missouri undergraduates. Truman State University, along with Missouri’s other public four-year universities, answered the Governor’s call and announced that they would freeze in-state undergraduate tuition for the 2014-15 academic year if the General Assembly adopted the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2015 balanced budget proposal for higher education.
The General Assembly followed the Governor’s budget recommendation for performance funding for universities but later, in the final hours of the legislative session, legislators passed more than a dozen special tax carve-outs and loopholes, which were not accounted for in their budget.
In June, Gov. Nixon vetoed bills containing these provisions, which would have reduced state and local revenues by more than $776 million annually. Over the summer, Gov. Nixon assembled a broad coalition of Missourians across the state including local elected officials, educators, business leaders, farmers and first responders who came together and spoke out in opposition to these special tax breaks.
Last week, because these bills did not become law, the Governor made $43,396,533 in performance funding available for the state’s public colleges and universities, including $2,089,069 for Truman State University. As a result, Truman State will be able to hold tuition flat for Missouri undergraduates for the upcoming year.
Recently, Truman State University was named the number one public university in the Midwest Regional category by U.S. News and World Report, and the number one public school in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” list in that category.
“Truman State University is national leader in offering a great education at an affordable price,” University President Troy Paino said. “We greatly appreciate the leadership of Gov. Nixon and the work of the Missouri General Assembly to provide our University with the resources necessary to make sure our students graduate with the skills they need to compete and succeed in the global economy.”
“These investments are possible because both parties came together to do the right thing for our students and our economy,” Gov. Nixon said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the General Assembly to keep Missouri a national leader in higher education innovation and affordability.”
Gov. Nixon has made the quality and affordability of higher education in Missouri a top priority of his administration. Over the past five years, Missouri has led the nation in holding down tuition increases at its public universities. The College Board’s 2013 Trends in College Pricing report shows that tuition and fees at Missouri’s public four-year institutions increased just 5 percent since 2008, lower than in any other state in the nation.
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