Higher ed budget cut plans to be ready soon

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education hopes to present recommendations for cutting state spending for colleges and
universities to Gov. Mitch Daniels by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Daniels has ordered that $150 million in state spending
be cut for higher education over the remaining 18 months of the state’s two-year budget cycle. He has ordered several other
cuts because tax revenues are coming in about $1.8 billion less than previous projections.

Officials with the higher
education commission have spoken privately with the presidents of all seven public colleges and universities in Indiana—Indiana,
Purdue, Ivy Tech, Indiana State, Ball State, Vincennes and Southern Indiana—about how the cuts should be made.

Higher
Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers says the presidents understood that universities must share in the pain of the state’s
budget woes.

College leaders say they’re looking at all options, including eliminating some sports
or even academic majors.