UConn President Susan Herbst is asking lawmakers to spare the school major budget cuts, warning that continued cutting could lead to the elimination of academic programs, sports and the closing of regional campuses.Herbst was the first of several leaders of Connecticut colleges and universities to go before the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.
The lawmakers are grappling with a state budget shortfall of approximately $500 million for the next fiscal year.
Herbst says plans to cut UConn's budget by $31.4 million would wipe out the revenue generated by recent tuition hikes.
She also argued that the school has a $3.4 billion economic impact on the state and is "one of the most important tools Connecticut has to help build its economic future."
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