Sequester takes toll on university research budgets
November 13, 2013 | 06:23 PM
The sequester has led to reduced research activity and personnel cuts at the nation's universities, including the land grant colleges that conduct much of the agricultural research, according to survey released at the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities meeting this week in Washington.
APLU conducted the study in conjunction with the Association of American Universities and The Science Coalition. The three groups collectively represent nearly 300 higher education institutions nationwide, including 171 research universities.
“Sequestration is a blunt and reckless tool that has chipped away at the core role our institutions play for the country in conducting critical research that leads to next generation, technological breakthroughs, said APLU President Peter McPherson. “Even in its earliest phase, sequestration is permeating every aspect of the work that our research universities do.”
“These effects have occurred despite the efforts of our institutions to bridge the gap and cover some of the losses resulting from reduced or delayed grants,” he said. “These efforts can cushion the blow only so long. The survey trends today will worsen and then be deeply entrenched a year from now if sequestration remains in place.”
“If Congress fails to reverse course and doesn’t begin to value investments in research and higher education, then the innovation deficit this country is facing will worsen as our foreign competitors continue to seize on this nation’s shortfall,” McPherson said.
APLU conducted the study in conjunction with the Association of American Universities and The Science Coalition. The three groups collectively represent nearly 300 higher education institutions nationwide, including 171 research universities.
“Sequestration is a blunt and reckless tool that has chipped away at the core role our institutions play for the country in conducting critical research that leads to next generation, technological breakthroughs, said APLU President Peter McPherson. “Even in its earliest phase, sequestration is permeating every aspect of the work that our research universities do.”
“These effects have occurred despite the efforts of our institutions to bridge the gap and cover some of the losses resulting from reduced or delayed grants,” he said. “These efforts can cushion the blow only so long. The survey trends today will worsen and then be deeply entrenched a year from now if sequestration remains in place.”
“If Congress fails to reverse course and doesn’t begin to value investments in research and higher education, then the innovation deficit this country is facing will worsen as our foreign competitors continue to seize on this nation’s shortfall,” McPherson said.
