Higher Education Issues: Bonds and Affirmative Action Ban Pass

Last Tuesday's election included four ballot initiatives pertaining to the issuance of bonds for capital improvement projects at higher education institutions as well as a highly watched amendment to the state constitution in Michigan to ban public institutions from utilizing affirmative action practices. All five measures passed.

Arkansas Voters approved 68 percent to 32 percent  Question 1, which will raise funds not to exceed $250 million in order to finance technology and facility improvement projects at institutions of higher education within the state.

California

A $10.4 billion bond measure, Proposition 1D passed 57 percent to 43 percent. The bond issue will be used to repair and upgrade buildings and classrooms at schools for all educational levels from kindergarten to community colleges to state universities in California.

  New Mexico Bond Measure B in New Mexico proposed to raise funds not to exceed $118 million for higher education capital improvements. Voters approved the measure 55 percent to 45 percent. Rhode Island Rhode Island's Question 4 was very specific in purpose, requesting $65 million to construct a new college of pharmacy building at the University of Rhode Island and $7.8 million for renovations to facilities at Rhode Island College. It passed overwhelmingly 62 percent to 38 percent. Michigan Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment to ban public colleges and universities, community colleges, and school districts from using affirmative action programs for employment, education or contracting purposes. It also proposed to extend discrimination protection on the basis of gender and ethnicity, in addition to the existing prohibition on discrimination by race, color or national origin. According to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Michigan president has already vowed to "immediately begin exploring legal action concerning this initiative." For higher education organizations within Michigan, the amendment is expected to affect recruitment, scholarship programs and student-support services. The amendment passed with 58 percent of the vote. Michigan is the third state to restrict affirmative action at public institutions, after similar measures were passed in California in 1996 and Washington in 1998.