TEMPE – Regents heard an update on the restructuring of Arizona higher education yesterday, but concerns regarding the costs of the redesign remain.
The Arizona University System Redesign Project was initiated in May to help Arizona universities meet the demand of increasing student enrollment.
The original proposal would strengthen Arizona State University and the UA as research universities while changing the focus of Northern Arizona University to undergraduate education.
Additionally, ASU West would become a freestanding institution named Central Arizona University and UA South would combine with NAU's Yuma campus to create Southern Arizona University.
Since May, 15 additional proposals have been introduced by Arizona students and faculty who were unhappy with the current proposal.
Members of the Arizona Board of Regents Feasibility and Planning Study Workgroup presented their latest findings regarding the restructuring of Arizona's three universities. The workgroup reported an expected Hispanic population boom and Arizona's need for differentiated tuition.
Regents said although the redesign plans are progressing, they are still worried about the project's cost.
"We can design things in many different ways, but what can we really implement?" asked Regent Bob Bulla.
Regent Fred Boice said although he believes the board mantra, "You never get anywhere if you start with the money," is true, he is still preoccupied with how the project will be funded.
Regent Chris Herstam, who proposed the original restructuring plan in May, said the redesign would be funded the same way the current university structure is.
"You'll always look to the state's general fund and tuition for the money," Herstam said.
Still, Herstam said it is difficult to put an exact price tag on the redesign since proposals are still under consideration.
Five spokespeople for the workgroup presented their informational findings and concluded Phase I of the regent's redesign plan.
Mary Jo Waits, staff director of the regents' study, reported that the number of prospected high school graduates in Arizona in 2017 would be astronomical compared to the national average.
Dan Anderson, assistant executive director for institutional analysis for the regents, said Arizona's population has expanded by 700,000 in four years, another trend causing university enrollment to continue to grow.
In order to remain competitive in the labor market force, Anderson said there is a need for more universities in Arizona, not just research-intensive schools, but also those focused on undergraduate degrees.
Another finding of the workgroup was the expected population growth of minorities and their lack of representation at the three state universities.
In Arizona, 25.3 percent of the population is Hispanic,while only 12.2 percent of students at ASU and UA are Hispanic, according to regent's reports.
UA President Peter Likins said it is unrealistic to expect Hispanic university enrollment figures to reflect the Hispanic population in Arizona since a low rate of Hispanics graduate from high school.
However, Likins said the presence of underrepresented minority groups, including Hispanics, blacks and American Indians, will increase dramatically at the UA.
"All minority populations must grow," Likins said.
Mark Searles, ASU West provost, said better accessibility to a college education, economic feasibility and faculty resources are all factors that play an important role in the evaluation criteria for the redesign project.
Although the UA's main campus will only be able to accommodate 40,000 students due to physical limitations, Likins said UA South has the potential for enormous growth in the redesign project, since the school can utilize other school's facilities and there are no capital expenses.
In addition, UA South's faculty teaches two-times more than research-intensive faculty, for lower pay. With the benefits of UA South, Likins said he expects UA South's tuition to decrease over time.
The workgroup will begin work on the redesign proposal Feb. 23 and present the information to the stakeholder groups in March.