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WILBERFORCE, Ohio (AP) - Central State University plans to inform the U.S. Department of Education that a potential $1.6 million cut in state funding could violate an agreement that settled the federal agency's discrimination complaint against the state.
The board of trustees at the historically black university on Thursday instructed President John Garland to advise the Education Department's civil-rights office that such a funding cut would jeopardize Central State's ability to continue its mission.
"I believe these cuts would be a step backward from the agreement to provide continued and extraordinary support for Central State University,'' Garland said Friday.
Central State, about 15 miles east of Dayton, receives special supplemental state funding that goes beyond the per-student allocation to all state universities because of the school's small size and its mission to serve black students. About 1,820 students are enrolled at Central State.
"Our concern is that in order for Central State to thrive and become an institution to attract more students and a diverse student body, we need additional resources, not reduced resources,'' Garland said.
In 1981, the Education Department concluded that Ohio had violated federal civil-rights laws in its funding and treatment of Central State.
The department said Ohio officials' decision to build and enhance Wright State University 11 miles away, among other actions, discriminated against Central State's students and faculty.
In 1998, the education department closed its active investigation, based in part on assurances from then-Gov. George Voinovich and other state officials that the state would continue to rebuild and renew Central State.
Education Department spokeswoman Jane Glickman said the department will monitor the situation and likely will need additional funding information as the state budget process unfolds.
"We certainly cannot comment about whether the state is or is not complying with this agreement at this time,'' she said.
The threat of funding cuts came last month when the board of regents accepted two budget proposals.
Jamie Abel, spokesman for the regents, said one budget would maintain current supplemental funding for Central State. He said the regents are recommending that budget.
The other budget is part of an exercise requested by the state Office of Budget and Management in case cuts in higher education are necessary in the next two years, he said. The board also accepted that proposal, but is not recommending it.
Under that proposal, Central State's supplemental funding would be cut 7.5 percent in fiscal 2006 and 15 percent in 2007.
Of Central State's $60 million two-year budget, $20 million of that comes in supplemental funding. The cuts would reduce the supplemental funding by $1.6 million.
Abel said the final budget may not be known until June and could end up being a combination of both proposals.
Orest Holubec, spokesman for Gov. Bob Taft, said the state is facing a tough budget situation.
"As in the last budget, the governor will do everything he can to prioritize higher education,'' Holubec said.
On the Net:
Central State: http://www.centralstate.edu/
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