As two-thirds of all states face large gaps in their prospective budgets, universities are left strapped for funding and frantically searching for ways to close the gap.

Budget cuts to universities are not just imminent in Wisconsin. Almost all state universities will be facing cuts in the future or are already.

All told, the budget cuts for the nation’s state governments could add up to $45 billion this year and between $60 and $85 billion in the next year.

In the past, education systems may have seemed untouchable, but now state universities have become a prime target for trimming states’ budgets. However, many university faculties feel that slashing education funds is not an economically sound idea.

The University of Oregon produces $10 for every dollar spent within the university. Like many universities nationwide, Oregon facilitates a positive economic impact on the state.

Even though the university produces a positive impact, the University of Oregon has been one of the hardest-hit institutions, facing a cut of 11 percent.

One of the measures currently taken to balance the shortfalls in Oregon is an additional surcharge of $10 per credit, and the university administration is expected to raise the charge to $13 per credit within the next few weeks.

Through a surcharge system, a hiring freeze and other money-saving ventures, the University of Oregon administration has predicted that no student programs or jobs will be eliminated during this academic year.

However, things may change next year. Some ideas already placed on the table are an enrollment cap on incoming students and a hiring freeze on state employees.

In addition to the University of Oregon, the University of Missouri is feeling a similar burden with state funds cut by 10 percent this year.

The University of Missouri-Columbia was forced to lay off 96 employees since Jan. 24, with 400 layoffs projected for the future.

MU chancellor Richard Wallace said the layoffs are necessary to balance the millions of dollars lost at the state government’s hands.

“These are indeed challenging times for MU,” MU chancellor Richard Wallace said. “As an internationally competitive university, we must continue to focus on our [primary goals] of enhancing graduate and professional education and research and of providing an exceptional undergraduate learning experience for our students.”

These “tough times” with budget cuts are taking a toll on students, too, but in the form of tuition increases. Tuition will increase an average of 10 percent nationwide, moving payment to $3,718 from $3,379 at public four-year institutions. Sixteen states have raised tuition by more than 10 percent already.

The University of Wisconsin may increase tuition $350 per semester for in-state students, as outlined in Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget proposal last week.

Donald Woolston, assistant dean of pre-engineering at the University of Wisconsin, had no good news to relay regarding the issue at hand.

“It’s not going to be business as usual … until everything is cleared up,” Woolston said.

In response to the question of whether he thinks any particular department will be affected by the proposed budget cut to the UW System, Woolston said, “I can’t imagine anybody will not be affected by the budget cuts.”