Education

As Governor Jay Nixon is proposing a large cut to funding for higher education, MU English Professor Richard Schwartz is encouraging students and universities to reconsider everything their money is going towards.  In his e-book, “Is a College Education Still Worth the Price?,” Schwartz says that universities, like MU, have many services and benefits for students that are driving up student costs.

"Students in general in America live better now than they lived when I went to college and living better costs more," Schwartz said.

Columbia attorney Craig Van Matre faces obstacles of time and partisan politics in his bid for a permanent seat on the UM System Board of Curators.

Craig Van Matre’s time is running out as a UM curator. He’s held the position since Governor Jay Nixon appointed him last June, but Missouri’s constitution requires a vote on his confirmation by Thursday. Some aren’t keen on making Van Matre a permanent board member.

Legislation that’s designed to stem a potential flood of students from unaccredited schools in St. Louis and Kansas City to nearby suburban schools was heard Tuesday before a Missouri Senate committee.

The UM system recommends curators approve an average tuition increase of 6.5 percent, with prices at the University of Missouri in Columbia spiking at as much as 7.5 percent.

State Rep. Chris Kelly (D - Columbia) says the decision is inevitable if the system wants to pay its expenses.

"The Governor's office left the Curators no choice but to go to tuition for money. The state's failing in its obligation, so we're transferring the cost of our education from students and their parents," Kelly said.