At BGSU the budget is much tighter than was thought three months ago due to rising costs of fuel oil and increased health care expenditures. In response to a question about how much of a budgetary priority is higher education in the state Dr. Ribeau replied that the first priority of the state is Medicare. The second priority is K - 12 education. There is a nationwide concern with improving the quality of K - 12 education. Many seem to think that the answer is to give more tests as a quick fix rather than examining teaching, learning, and creating an environment conducive to learning.
Higher education is looked upon more favorably than it was five years ago.
The former governor supported two-year colleges and the current governor is more supportive of higher education but there is less money available now. Higher education needs to show how we add value to the state economically. Dr. Ribeau stated that at BGSU we need to control what can be controlled in order to increase the budget. Money allocated from the state is based largely on enrollment. As enrollment increases we can get near the maximum amount of money possible.