Slightly more than $154 million in federal stimulus cash will help Arizona’s three state universities replace a portion of the cuts they suffered in last year’s state budget.
Arizona State University is allocated $69.8 million, with the University of Arizona receiving $60.8 million and Northern Arizona University receiving $23.5 million.
The state schools suffered cuts totaling 20% of their normal state support, or $190 million, in the fiscal 2009 state budget.
The state agreed to keep funding for higher education at fiscal 2006 levels to receive the stimulus dollars. Another provision of the federal program required the money to be allocated to the schools in proportion to their relative reduction in state support.
NAU president John Haeger said the school’s share of the stimulus funding will save more than 300 jobs, and reduce planned employee furloughs to no more than three days this school year.
“We will not have to endure more draconian cuts to our workforce or reduced programs and services for students,” Haeger said.
The Arizona Board of Regents has imposed a tuition surcharge of approximately 20% on the 127,000 students at the three state schools enrolling for the upcoming school year. UA students will pay an additional $766 a year, with ASU students paying $566 and NAU students $350.
ASU officials said that without the stimulus funding the student surcharge would have been more than $1,000 a year.
Community colleges in the state will receive $24 million in stimulus funding later this month.
