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Actionline NEA

A ‘Perfect Storm’

NEA responds to Bush administration policies and state and federal cutbacks that have worsened the nationwide higher education funding crisis.

In a recent policy statement, NEA proposes solutions to aid millions of Americans now being hammered by a “perfect storm”: a stagnant economy, soaring college costs, and student aid reductions due to federal and state cutbacks.

"The economic downturn has left many young people and families with fewer resources to pay for a four-year college degree just as costs skyrocket and public and private assistance become more difficult for them to obtain,” notes the Association statement. “With almost all states struggling through the worst fiscal crisis since World War II, state universities and community colleges are receiving less and less help from policymakers.”

The road to a solution, says NEA, begins with: Raising the Pell Grant maximum; significantly increasing funding for other sources of federal assistance, such as supplemental grants and work-study; and providing additional direct fiscal relief to states and localities to pay for higher education and other critical needs.

The full NEA statement is available online at www.nea.org/he/fiscalcrisis/neastmt.html.

Over the past 30-years, the average salary for full-time faculty on 9/10-month contracts has increased 5 percent in constant 2002–03 dollars, according to the most recent NEA Higher Education Research Center Update, “Faculty Salaries 2002–03.”

While this year’s average faculty salaries continue an upward trend that began in 1997–98, the report notes that only professors and instructors accounted for the increase. Faculty in all other ranks showed a decrease in spending power over the past 30 years.

The Update, based on data from the U.S. Department of Education Integrated Post-secondary Education Data System, is online at www.nea.org/he.

NEA’s 2004 Higher Education Conference, March 4–7 at the Seattle Westin Hotel, will be held in tandem with the higher education conference of the American Federation of Teachers. The separate conferences are taking place in the same hotel at the same time, so participants registered for one conference may attend sessions at the other conference, as well as some joint sessions.

The NEA conference theme, “Higher Education on Dangerous Ground: Defending a Public Good,” reflects the need for faculty and staff to define their work as an essential public good.

For a registration packet, call the NEA Higher Education Program, 202-822-7162, send e-mail to Highered@nea.org, or visit the NEA Higher Education Web site at www.nea.org/he.