The Reno Gazette-Journal reported on a February 3, 2010, meeting of the Nevada Board of Regents, at which scenarios were discussed in an effort to absorb a 22% cut in the state’s higher education budget. The cuts amount to $37 million this fiscal year and an additional $110 million next fiscal year. One of the scenarios included eliminating college athletics at the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Other scenarios include closing campuses (Truckee Meadows Community College, Western Nevada College and Great Basin College), eliminating 1,290 jobs, cutting employee pay by 20%, and raising student fees by 48%.
According to the article, the regents will hear from the presidents of the state’s eight higher education institutions on March 4-5 in Las Vegas. The Nevada System of Higher Education took a 13.4 percent cut in the general fund appropriation from the Legislature in 2009.