Note to Editors: On Monday, Jan. 28, and the day of the forum, Jan. 29, University of Colorado Student Union representatives will hand out packets of ramen noodles to symbolize the financial challenges of being a college student. Organizers says students will hand out ramen to their peers in the University Memorial Center atrium from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both days.
David Skaggs, executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a former U.S. representative, is one of several state policymakers who will participate in a student-organized forum at the University of Colorado at Boulder that will examine higher tuition costs and decreased state funding for the state's top research universities.
The forum "Higher Education: Where Did We Go Wrong?" will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29, in room 1B50 of Eaton Humanities, which is on the north side of the Norlin Quadrangle. The event is free and open to the general public.
Other forum participants will include state Sen. Joshua Penry, R-Grand Junction; state Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder; CU Regent and Democratic Colorado Senate candidate Cindy Carlisle; CU-Boulder Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance Steve McNally; and Chad Marturano, who heads higher education for the Governor's Office of Planning and Budgeting. KUSA-TV broadcast journalist Adam Schrager will moderate the event, student organizers said.
"Colorado is 48th nationally for public higher education funding, and despite a large financial aid increase and tuition 'buy-down' by CU-Boulder, tuition still increased for some of our students by double digits last spring," said Sally Ho, director of public relations for CU-Boulder's Student Union. "Students will hear directly from decision-makers about why these conditions exist and explore options for closing the funding gap between CU-Boulder and its peer institutions around the country."
In an attempt to hold the line on tuition, the university last year unveiled the largest financial aid package in its 130-year history, a $6.6 million allocation that included a one-time $200 scholarship tuition "buy-down" and higher need-based grants for all of CU-Boulder's estimated 16,700 undergraduate resident students.
The students' tuition forum is taking place as state lawmakers and policymakers renew efforts to review higher education funding in Colorado. This year, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce is expected to conduct a survey of Coloradans to gauge their perspectives on the state's higher education system. Among other issues, the survey will ask state citizens what would prompt them to vote for increased funding for the state's top research universities.
Forum organizers said a reception would follow the event, where guests will be available for press interviews and photo opportunities.
On Monday, Jan. 28, and the day of the forum, Jan. 29, Student Union representatives will hand out packets of ramen noodles to symbolize the financial challenges of being a college student. Students will hand out ramen to their peers in the University Memorial Center atrium from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both days, organizers said.
For more information about the University of Colorado Student Union, go to .