Who needs a degree?

Friday, March 11, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.

Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposed budget includes a 20 percent cut for the Nevada System of Higher Education, which is dealing with the effect of previous rounds of budget cutting.

The Board of Regents is scheduled to talk about the budget today at a meeting in Carson City. The regents are expected to consider declaring fiscal exigency, which would allow them to make cuts and lay off staff more quickly.

As the Las Vegas Sun reported Thursday, such a declaration could cause problems for years to come. Other universities have seen top faculty leave and enrollment drop.

The final decision on budget cuts will come after the Legislature and governor agree on the budget. However, the system has been putting together a plan of potential cuts, and it isn’t pretty.

UNLV President Neal Smatresk put out a proposal this week that would cut nearly $32.6 million over the next two years. Those cuts would come on top of previous reductions over the past few years, which in total would be nearly $100 million.

Smatresk’s plan would cut 315 positions in addition to the 528 that have been cut to address the budget crisis. Twelve academic departments would be eliminated, as would at least 33 degree programs, including philosophy. Athletic funding would be reduced, and graduate programs and professional schools would take a hit. Cuts to the acclaimed law school would “render it a mediocre institution,” according to one UNLV budget document.

Beyond UNLV, the entire state would feel the impact. Under various scenarios being considered:

• UNR would address a $26 million reduction by eliminating 215 positions, 140 of which are currently filled. It would also eliminate several degree programs and reduce funding for athletics.

• The community colleges would see significant reductions. For example, scenarios include merging three Northern Nevada colleges, closing all of the College of Southern Nevada’s satellite campuses and reducing the number of class offerings.

• Fees and tuition would rise significantly. The law school, for example, would triple tuition over what it was three years ago.

No matter the scenario, students, particularly working people trying to gain new skills, will find it much more difficult to get an education in Nevada. There will be fewer classes and they will cost more.

But the budget cuts go beyond meeting the needs of students. Education is a vitally important part of any state.

As we have noted before, the Brookings Institution found a link between education and economic success in the Intermountain West. A good university system provides jobs and economic diversity.

“These cuts will significantly reduce our ability to educate our students, maintain our campus and serve the community,” Smatresk wrote this week in a letter outlining the cuts. “I believe this is a tragic loss and a giant step backward for Nevada as we attempt to build a globally competitive and highly educated workforce that can attract new industries and build a more diversified economy.”

The fact that basic programs, like philosophy, are on the chopping block should be a clear indication that there is something very wrong here.

Cuts of this magnitude would harm the economy — both now and in the future.

CORRECTION: The number of positions that would be eliminated at UNR was changed to 215, instead of 50. | (March 11, 2011)