Pubdate: Tue, 11 Dec 2001
Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, The (US)
Copyright: 2001 by The Chronicle of Higher Education
Contact:  http://chronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/84
Author: Thomas Bartlett

ILLINOIS ELIMINATES STATE FINANCING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISONS

Gov. George H. Ryan of Illinois announced last week that financing for 
higher education for the state's prisoners would be eliminated from next 
year's budget, a move that would cancel classes for 25,000 students and 
could lead to layoffs at more than a dozen colleges.

The decision comes in the midst of a state budget crisis. According to a 
spokesman for the governor, Illinois spends $5.4-million a year for college 
programs in prisons, all of which will be eliminated to help make up an 
estimated $500-million revenue shortfall.

Lake Land College, in Mattoon, will be among the institutions hit hardest 
by the cuts. Robert K. Luther, president of the community college, says 
Lake Land will have to eliminate 73 full-time positions and 74 part-time 
positions -- about 20 percent of its workers.

There is some dispute over exactly how much the state spends annually to 
educate inmates. Mr. Luther put that number at roughly $14-million, with 
$4.1-million going to Lake Land alone. Sergio Molina, a spokesman for the 
state's Department of Corrections, said those figures were a 
"miscalculation," but said he could not be more specific.

Lake Land has offered inmates associate degrees in subjects such as 
business management since the late 1960s. Mr. Luther called the governor's 
decision "bad public policy," pointing to studies that he said show that 
college programs in prisons lower the rate of recidivism. "In the long run, 
it's not going to save the state money," he said.

MacMurray College, in Jacksonville, plans to eliminate 38 full-time 
positions and an undetermined number of part-time jobs because of the 
budget cuts. Lawrence D. Bryan, president of the liberal-arts college, said 
he also believes that cutting the programs is shortsighted. "Tragically, 
this decision will please those for whom 'lock 'em up and throw away the 
key' makes good sense," Mr. Bryan said.

Mr. Luther said he hopes that Governor Ryan will reconsider the cuts before 
February 1, when they are scheduled to take effect. Mr. Molina said letters 
officially notifying colleges that the funds will be eliminated were 
already in the mail.
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