School suffers from long-term squeeze in state aid

As faculty members at the University of Massachusetts Boston, we appreciate the Globe’s in-depth reporting on our beleaguered campus (“UMass Boston campus in a bind,’’ Page A1, March 19). Laura Krantz’s recent piece was full of insight, emphasizing the history that has led to the present crunch as well as the harmful effects that proposed administrative remedies — from program cuts to tuition hikes to increased class size — are likely to have on our diverse, hard-working students.

But Adrian Walker’s follow-up column, “UMass failing the money test’’ (Metro, March 20), narrows and oversimplifies the story. Walker drops from the picture one of the crucial causes of the current “mess’’ at UMass Boston: the long-term decline in per-student state aid for public higher education in Massachusetts.

As Krantz pointed out, “one of the university’s biggest challenges has been the uncertainty of financial support from state government. In 1985 state funding made up 75 percent of the campus’s operating budget. . . . Today it makes up 29.5 percent.’’

We call on those who care about UMass Boston to join us not only in questioning the UMass administration, past and present, but also in fighting for full funding for Boston’s only public university. Otherwise, UMass Boston students, the faculty and staff who serve them, and the broader Boston community stand to suffer for the neglect of legislators and upper administration.

Joseph G. Ramsey

Departments of English and American studies

Sofya Aptekar

Department of sociology

Gonzalo Bacigalupe

Department of counseling and school psychology

University of Massachusetts Boston

Teaching at the University of Massachusetts Boston has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life, despite the consistently inadequate support offered by the Commonwealth. What an extraordinary place this urban university is, with students who are astonishingly diverse (in every way), creative, and highly motivated, and with first-tier faculty who are as devoted to the students as to their own impressive research.

In 1971, when I started working in the state system, Massachusetts ranked 49th in the country in its per-capita support for public higher education; it hasn’t improved much since then. I’m convinced we will weather this latest budgetary crisis, as we have others. But when are the people who run this state going to realize how crucial it is to give its fullest possible support to its most valuable resource?

Lloyd Schwartz

Somerville

The writer is a professor of English.

Grateful graduate now wonders if her kids could reap same benefits

As a 1991 graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston, I read with great disappointment of the financial troubles plaguing the university (“Early deficit warning was sounded,’’ Page A1, March 23). I was particularly discouraged to read that larger class sizes and increased tuition have been proposed as solutions. These are bad ideas.

What made UMass Boston a great place for me was its small class sizes, the attention of dedicated professors, and affordability. Whenever I am asked about my experience there, I immediately think of the availability of the teachers, their interest in their students, and classes where students had the time and space to share ideas and debate issues. Based on my conversations, my experience was unusual even then.

Replacing small classes and low tuition for fancy buildings is a grave mistake, but one that, unfortunately, many colleges these days think is worthwhile. Fancy buildings don’t teach. As my own kids near high school graduation, I have encouraged them to look at UMass Boston. Now, however, I am reconsidering.

If the university becomes just another behemoth that needs to keep increasing tuition to support its poor administrative decisions, while simultaneously decreasing the quality of the education it provides, then it will fail to distinguish itself in any meaningful way from the many other educational institutions that have made the same decisions.

Jennifer Myka

East Montpelier, Vt.