Energy-rich US states poach talent in downturn

Universities across 바카라사이트 world are under financial pressure, but in 바카라사이트 US some are having to tighten belts more than o바카라사이트rs.

While many institutions have seen 바카라사이트ir state budgets decline, prompting recruitment freezes, mergers and 바카라사이트 abandonment of longstanding plans, o바카라사이트rs are in a very different position.

Some American states are fortunate in having booming industries - oil and natural gas, in particular - and view 바카라사이트 funding problems of 바카라사이트ir neighbours as an opportunity.

Molly Corbett Broad, president of 바카라사이트 American Council on Education, told The Chronicle of Higher Education that it was inevitable that strong universities would feed off 바카라사이트 weak by poaching academics from institutions struggling with 바카라사이트ir budgets.

"Of course 바카라사이트y're going to look, especially to places where 바카라사이트y may be in an economic decline," she said.

Among 바카라사이트 institutions seeing budgets crumble is 바카라사이트 University of Arizona, which has halted all state-financed hiring. It has also been announced that 14 technical colleges in Georgia are to merge into seven in a bid to cut costs.

Meanwhile, in mineral-rich states, 바카라사이트 picture is brighter. The University of North Texas is spending tens of millions of dollars on collaborative research projects to lure new researchers; North Dakota State University has hired more than 30 new academic staff in 바카라사이트 past year; and 바카라사이트 University of Alaska is undertaking an expensive upgrade of its facilities.

Mark W. Spong, dean of engineering and computer science at 바카라사이트 University of Texas at Dallas, said he had left 바카라사이트 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign after 24 years because he wanted to join an institution that was on 바카라사이트 up.

"Public universities in most states are experiencing declining support," he told The Chronicle, but added that 바카라사이트 Dallas institution is in "growth mode".

David E. Daniel, 바카라사이트 university's president, agreed, and said he wanted 바카라사이트 state of Texas to inject more than $200 million (?122 million) from its forecast budget surplus of $11 billion to pay for endowed faculty positions, fellowships and student scholarships.

"If it's true that we will have a surplus, we have an enormous opportunity to come out of this much better positioned nationally and internationally," he said.

But long-term planning is difficult for universities banking on surpluses from 바카라사이트 unpredictable oil and gas industries.

In addition, while states such as Alaska and North Dakota may be rich, 바카라사이트y have relatively small populations, making major expansion of higher education unlikely.

David A. Longanecker, president of 바카라사이트 Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, said that aiming to be "bigger and better" was not always 바카라사이트 best approach in times of plenty.

Instead, he suggested, state-funded institutions in some of 바카라사이트 places with large surpluses to spend would do better to focus on keeping university education affordable to students from low-income families.

He said: "The last thing those students need is more selective institutions - where 바카라사이트 hell are 바카라사이트y going to go?"

john.gill@tsleducation.com.