Sixty percent of Americans say they think colleges run more like businesses and are increasingly focused on their bottom lines, according to a new report that shows declining confidence in public higher education.
Two years ago, 52 percent of those polled said colleges are essentially businesses, according to the findings from the Public Agenda for the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
The findings indicate that universities might have a tough time convincing the public that they need more money to continue providing high-quality education, according to the report. That could be troubling for officials at the University of Colorado, who have repeatedly said they won't be able to offer the same quality of services with shrinking state support.
Colorado ranks last in the nation when it comes to state support for higher education. Since the beginning of fiscal year 2009, official at CU's Boulder campus project a $60 million reduction in state funding, with funding dropping from $86 million to $26 million. That money has been temporarily backfilled with federal stimulus dollars, but those funds will run out by no later than June 2011.
The university conducts outreach throughout the state -- including mobile dental wagons that provide services to low-income residents and a free tax preparation by students on the Boulder campus -- that helps the public gain confidence in CU, officials say.
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