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Gifts for all occasions in the Galleria! Subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list. The "What is the Deal?" Deal-of-the-Week: Travel for less with Hotwire Hot-Fares(sm)! May 23, 2004 What is the Deal with Kansas Tuition? By Jan A. Larson  Last week Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a
bill that grants a tuition break to some illegal immigrants at state
colleges and universities.As I mentioned in a previous article on this subject, federal law expressly prohibits the granting of such tuition breaks. This technicality doesn't seem to be a deterrent to some state legislatures and governors. What seems to be lost on the career politicians seeking a few extra votes is that granting a break to one person or group comes at a cost to every other person or group. The current in-state tuition rate (for 15 credits) at the University of Kansas is $1763 compared to $5501 for non-resident undergraduate students. Ostensibly the non-resident tuition rate more accurately reflects the true cost of delivering 15 college credits, as the families of non-resident students do not pay the taxes that support the university. This $3738 "shortfall" constitutes the subsidy that will now be offered to illegals and will be paid by those that have followed the rules. Adding insult to injury, the Kansas Board of Regents is considering proposals to increase tuition up to 18 percent at the six state institutions. The proposed increase will add $318 to the tab for resident students. In addition, the various colleges at the university are requesting tuition surcharges of up to $75 per credit. On one hand, the governor argues that many of the illegal immigrants that would be helped "consider themselves residents" (of Kansas) but when addressing the tuition increases, said, "... it is unfortunate there are not other areas where adjustments can be made." I guess the governor doesn't consider a subsidy to illegal immigrants an "area for adjustment." Some regular readers may be asking why I care about college tuition in Kansas when I live in Texas. The reason that I care is that in this case, I've got a horse in the race. I am a University of Kansas alumnus and have been an annual donor to the university for nearly 20 years. This outrageous action on the part of the legislature has brought me to the difficult decision to discontinue my contributions. To be sure, the University of Kansas will not have to discontinue any programs, terminate any non-tenured faculty, postpone any equipment purchases, cancel any degree programs or have to rename a campus building as a result of this decision. My contributions were not of that magnitude. The issue is one of principle. The governor and legislature have chosen to thumb their noses at the law while fleecing resident and (legal) non-resident students alike. Taxpayers in the Sunflower State may not have the choice whether or not to subsidize illegal immigrants with their tax dollars (at least until the next election), but alumni donors do have a choice. Some might say that withholding contributions will only hurt the students. It is unfortunate that the Kansas legislature and Governor Sebelius didn't consider that when they chose to stick it to law-abiding Kansans and their college-age children. -- Send feedback to the author. The "What is the Deal?" column will appears weekly on the Pie of Knowledge website. Guest submissions are welcome and encouraged. To submit an article to "What is the Deal?" click here. To subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list and receive early notification when a new column is available, click here. The Pie of Knowledge will never, ever divulge email addresses to any third party for any reason unless so ordered by a court of law. Contributions to the Pie of Knowledge are greatly appreciated. 
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