KIRKSVILLE, MO -- As college students in Missouri are preparing for the new school year, schools are facing more budget cuts to higher education. Earlier this week, Governor Nixon announced that Missouri’s public colleges and universities absorbed nearly $50 million in cuts to higher education for the current academic year. As part of the deal with the state, the budget cuts will not affect the in-state tuition rates for Missouri students.
"We're already prepared the University for that cut” said Truman State University President Troy Panio. “Obviously it's difficult to make those cuts. Most of our budget is wrapped up with it's employees so it's always difficult to do that because really our employees are a large part, not a large part, really all of who we are here and our service to the students, so it's very difficult. Obviously you have to make difficult choices and there are some things we can't do that we could do before, some services that obviously it would be nice to be able to provide more things but we're ready for this year, the university has downsized a little bit, but I think all and all we're ready to tackle it.”
Governor Nixon also announced that by June, an additional $54 million would be cut from state scholarships.
"Some of our students have had to have taken a hit in their financial aid and I know that's affecting families, but with that said, we're really excited about the incoming class. We have over 1,400 students, up about 6 percent in our incoming students. So despite those financial challenges that our students and families are facing, I think what we're seeing is really a high quality student body to come into Truman this fall."
Truman State University will start classes on Thursday, August 26.
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