The Need for Direct and Substantial Aid
As one views the many different ways in which federal support can be used in higher education, one is forced to conclude at once that no one program of support is most useful for all institutions. Clearly, a variety of approaches is needed.
In general, the University of Minnesota believes that federal assistance is most helpful when it is directed at those problems of the institution which represent the most substantial drains on institutional resources, when it offers reasonable discretion in use of funds to the institution, and when it is direct rather than indirect aid.
It follows that major universities, at least, are helped by institutional assistance, rather than categorical assistance. One continually pressing need, for example, is for new physical facilities to support growing and changing student bodies and rapidly changing educational programs. A failure to meet these needs from federal or state funds has a direct effect on tuition. For this reason, the federal legislation supporting academic facilities was most important. Universities are most concerned about the possibility that such aid may be sharply cut.
To download a PDF of the full article, please click here.
