Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 20, 1995                   TAG: 9504200083
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

UNCERTAIN AIR PREVAILS AT VA. TECH

"In lieu of a raise," one professor said as he poured himself a complimentary soft drink from a table outside the auditorium.

Uncertainty remains the watchword at Virginia Tech, where professors gathered Wednesday to ask President Paul Torgersen how the university accrued a $12.2 million shortfall for next year. Of that, $3.6 million is caused by a 500-student drop in out-of-state enrollment tuition. Last week, the university board of visitors raised out-of-state tuition 3 percent, instead of the 7.5 percent allowed under state law, to $13,859 for tuition and fees. State residents pay $7,207.

"I would not have increased out-of-state'' tuition, said chemical engineering Professor Peter Rony. "Every fall, I ask students why they come to Virginia Tech. For so many years, [they said], `This was the greatest bargain on the East Coast' - and that's not true any more."

Anther professor pointed out that Tech's out-of-state engineering students now pay $2,000 to $3,000 more than they would to attend competing Georgia Tech.

"What I think is a concern underlying all this, we have a governor who wants to cut back government 16,000 [workers]. ... It's a terrible public relations move by Allen and demoralizing for the entire state employee group," Rony said.

Virginia's spending per student has dropped into the bottom 10 of all states. One professor wondered what portion of incoming money comes from the state - and how much would it take to move to, say, 20th in funding? Torgersen replied the state would have to double its $3,000 contribution to each Virginia student's cost.

"Is our problem because of reduced support?'' asked communications Professor Sam Riley. "Or is it something else?''

Has higher education been discovered as the place for the state to find extra money, he wondered.

Press criticism of higher education coupled with downsizing produced an environment where "we were vulnerable," Torgersen said. For instance, some stories that compare research universities "insinuated a lot of graduate students are teaching" classes - a claim Tech's administration has worked hard to refute.

"I worry if a department is looking for research hands, then assigns teaching duties, and the person doesn't speak English," Torgersen said.

Or a teacher has one section of a class, and the lecture is especially large. And, he said, "I'm not sure faculty are as available as they should be for office hours."

For its part, the administration is trying to cut its size - eight key jobs haven't been filled in recent years. Three other recently opened jobs, including vice president for alumni affairs, won't be filled anytime soon, Torgersen said.