Purdue president reacts to governor's budget proposal
In response to Gov. Daniels' proposed budget released Thursday (Jan. 13), Purdue University President France A. Córdova issued the following statement.
The new round of cuts to higher education that have been proposed by the Governor will severely challenge our ability to provide a high-quality education and generate the new knowledge that benefits the state of Indiana.
While we understand the economic pressures facing Indiana and the Governor's responsibility to keep the state fiscally sound, we cannot let our standards drop. We must ensure the continued value of a Purdue degree. We must retain and reward the high-quality professors who generate new knowledge and new jobs and who teach Indiana students how to compete and cooperate in a global economy. We must keep the professional programs that, though they cost more, are in high demand because they are critical to the state's economy and our citizens' quality of life. We cannot spiral into mediocrity.
Purdue has made the sacrifices that were called for over the past two years and we are in the process of an intensive effort to contain and cut costs and become more efficient. We have tried to ensure that the cuts would not compromise the quality of instruction or the value of a Purdue degree. Purdue was the only Big Ten university to move up in the last national rankings and was listed fourth in the country in a Wall Street Journal survey of corporate employers. Our students value their Purdue education.
Hoosiers get an exceptional value from Purdue and Indiana University. A recent state government report showed the total economic impact of Indiana's major research institutions was $7.6 billion, an $11 return on every dollar of taxpayer money appropriated by the state in 2009.
If the proposed cuts are enacted, we will have no choice but to raise tuition or we face a decline in quality, an erosion of the value of a Purdue degree and a reduction in programs that impact Indiana's economy.
We appreciate the efforts of our faculty and staff to continually implement cost savings in a thoughtful way. We appreciate the willingness of our legislators and the Commission for Higher Education to work with us, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration throughout the budget process. We all want the same thing for Indiana: a vibrant workforce with skilled talent and leadership. We are proud of Purdue's role in fostering this mission. We have promised our students a new world of opportunity. We will work with the legislature to deliver on that promise.