“The cuts to higher education translate to not quite $2.2 million in additional budget reductions for Metropolitan State College of Denver in Fiscal Year 2011-12,” says President Stephen Jordan, who also cautions that the College could face additional reductions based on upcoming revenue forecasts.

As reported in the Feb. 7 @Metro, Jordan believes that by using the financial accountability plan and the tuition increase it contains, the College will be able to manage the reductions as planned, “but we recognize that the budget reductions will still place additional hardships on our employees.”

Understanding the budget constraints the entire state is facing, Jordan says, “We appreciate the collaboration between the Office of the Governor and Colorado higher education institutions.” He added that the appointment of Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia as executive director of the Department of Higher Education “demonstrates the willingness of the office to fully consider the unique demands of all higher education institutions in the state, and the role we each fill in educating Colorado’s workforce.”

The entire budget proposal is available at the governor’s Office of Planning and Budgeting website.

The next state revenue forecast is scheduled for March 20. The budget for the FY 2011-12 is expected to be finalized on April 15, 2011.

Watch @Metro for additional details about Metro State’s budget cuts as they become available.