The Sidney herald., 1961-01-04

further reductions in staff person
nell.
In such cases consistent with the
administrative program or cutting
out unnecessary exp use and pay
ing better salaries to those dedi-
Gated, productive career people,
each administrator should be au-
thorized to apply a portion of the
money thus saved to salary in
creaseS of those employees re-
tanned, including his own. I per-
sOnally feel that most of our in
Stitution administrators are under
paid, and, if through efficient OPP
GRAFTON they can save the state
money, then a salary increase
should be Forthcoming before the
next legislature convenes. l be-
lieve all such salary increases for
staff personnel and administrators
should be in an amount approved
by the governor and always with
In the aggregate salary budget for
the institution.
ALLEGATION of funds for build
lngs in the budget has been linn
tied to completion of buildings al
ready started but as in other de-
p2rtments the budget is consistent
with the administrations policy of
a moratorium on new building
construction until such time as
needs can be evaluated by a plan
ming committee and p~riorities eS-
tabliShed.
You will note a sharp cut in the
budgets for the six units of the
university system. The maximum
student load at the six units has
increased approximately 81 % in
the years 1851 Through 1859. The
per student appropriation in 1851
was $1,000; in 1859 it was ST.
/ 1890. While enrollments were
increasing by 81%, appropriations
| to the six units were 317% high
: er in 1859 than in 1851.
2 In the first term of the 1859
1860 college year the student
faculty ratio at the University of
Arizona was 14.8 students to one
faculty member. At Colorado State
: University the ratio was 1874 to
/. New Mexico State University
: 21.7 to 1; North Dakota State
: College 1877 to 1; and Utah State
i University ia to /. The student
r faculty ratio at Montana State Col
lege for the same 1959-1960 fall
term Was 1878 students to l facul-
S ty member. These are all land
grant colleges and universities. ]
f am sorry figures for the 1960-1961
fall term were not available tx
= me but apparently those for tht
f 1959-1960 first term were The
. most current in the national of.
flee of education of the depart.
ment of health, education and wei.
d fare, the source of those quoted
l would call your attention to tht
i. fact that these ratios are baseC
'e on first term enrollments. En,
l. rollments generally decrease il
the second and third terms of tn
: college year and such drop would
l. of course, show ar even lower stu
)r dent-faculty ratio.
The budget has provided salar,
III increases as requested by the uni
presidents. Such ALLEGATION O
funds has been on the more real
IS istic Systematically ratios of /
Z students to l faculty member a
Ii the School of Mines. II to l at tn
" two large units; and a ratio o
Is 20 to l at the other three schools
10 Buildings under construction ca
II be completed but future buildin
y programs on each campus will b
le placed on a priority based on req
&c need and not desire.
If The Board of Education has in
- itiated a study of needs of the 81
units to the end that duplicate
of courses can be eliminated c
held TO a minimum and prolifere
ton within departments of eac
u unit, stopped. The board has en-
y ployed an executive director wh
~ will direct his attention to th
area and board members are 1
be complmented for this actor
y. The taxpayers of Montana haE
been saddled with the cost of
: six unit university system an
= most people are of the opinio
something should be done to COZ
~ rect the situation. A committt
on higher education could e.
anime our higher education nees
=; and come forward with recon
mendations which would enab
~ us to intelligently evaluate OF
y. system and modify it to fit o.
financial capabilities. l recon
- mend provision for such a con
mittee.
When money is available equiv
ment for all departments and il
~ situations should be purchased I
a need and priority basis.
~ The budget provides for an j
crease of 3,422, 1890 in cor
- mon school aid. For the first tin
~ in many years the state will co
80 tribute 1907 of its share to Il
foundation program. This will
true only if existing schedules a
I'VE maintained. If there is an increa
TOT in foundation schedules then aga
u i the states share under the budg
AIRY proposal will fall short of If
contribution. If adjustments &
U.s. aosoacx~o, w i,o tho r,~oor>opo 4o ~