During the last year, this column has frequently touched on the economic challenges facing our state, nation and higher education. We have carefully stated our concerns to inform readers how we strategically are addressing those needs within the communities we serve. As we analyze the content of the latest economic reports, however, we must alert the public to the potential impact of this information on Riverland Community College’s health. The economic vitality of the communities and region we serve depends on a vital, healthy community college. Here is what we know:

• The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system serves 63 percent of the state’s undergraduate students, and for four years our system has experienced a rapid increase in enrollment. In 2009, the system had the largest enrollment increase in its history, a headcount increase of nearly 7 percent over the previous fall.
• Governor Pawlenty's February 15 budget proposal would reduce the Minnesota State and Colleges and Universities system’s appropriation by $10.5 million for fiscal year 2011. This reduction follows the governor’s $50 million unallotment from the system’s appropriation last June. The unallotment, which could reduce Riverland’s budget by $1.25 million, is to take effect July 1, 2010.
• An additional cut would be extremely challenging for our college to absorb, particularly with our enrollment increases. Remarkably, we find ourselves facing the possibility of having to cut healthy programs! In spite of this dismaying prospect, Riverland continues to explore strategies to preserve services and balance budgets for the coming year and the next biennium.
• The governor’s division of the proposed reduction for higher education is consistent with the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes a “maintenance of effort” provision that limits cuts to higher education funding at the fiscal year 2006 level. That level translates to a maximum total cut of $46.6 million for Minnesota’s two public systems.
• The governor’s proposed distribution of the cuts, while unfortunate, is fair as it returns both systems to their Fiscal Year 2006 funding level.

Riverland serves three campuses within the system, and we, too, are showing considerable growth. A key factor of this growth is the economic recession and the demand for retraining and career education for dislocated workers. These dislocated workers need the education and training available at Riverland to give them necessary skills as we emerge from this historic recession.

The challenges facing Riverland become more crucial as we attempt to balance our enrollment increases with these financial cuts. One cannot help but start to visualize a frightening dilemma facing Riverland.

Riverland continues to be a good steward of the public’s resources even as less of our funding comes from state support. We ask that you as citizens become involved and voice your concerns about public education to your legislators.

Is “doing more with less” serving our students well? These cutbacks threaten to erode the variety and quality of education and services Riverland offers. Your voice to our government officials can make a difference.