Public colleges must be stewards (管家) of the public’s trust and of students’ and taxpayers’ dollars. They should be (36) for containing costs and for spending on what matters most: preparing students to be active learners, career-ready and engaged citizens. Public colleges are using myriad strategies to cut costs and keep college (37) . These include (38) administrative expenses; eliminating low-enrollment programs and student support services; and achieving cost savings in energy management and employee health care.
Fast-rising tuition increases may make it seem that institutional spending is out of (39) However, public colleges’ collective (40) per full-time student has actually been fiat in recent years.
The primary reason for escalating (逐步上升) tuition prices has been the state-to-student cost shift that has taken place in who pays for a public higher education. States have gradually (41) from their public higher education systems, with families picking up more of the tab through tuition increases. Institutions have first turned to reducing spending, only raising tuition prices to (42) academic quality.
The best way to mitigate future tuition increases is for state leaders to reinvest in public higher education. With the Great Recession finally behind us—during which states dramatically reduced (43) for public colleges and universities—state leaders started reinvesting in public higher education this year, providing a nearly 6% increase in funding.
Maintaining (44) to affordable public colleges is paramount to our nation’s economic security, social equity and civic vibrancy. It is (45) upon state government, together with public colleges and universities, to ensure this happens.
A. raise B. disinvested C. fair D. reducing E. reinvest
F. affordable G. tuition H. accountable I. afford J. funding
K. incumbent L. maintain M. access N. control O. spending