As the 2003?2004 academic year began, the financial woes of public colleges took the spotlight on Capitol Hill and in statehouses. Record spending cuts designed to balance state budgets resulted in program cutbacks,unfilled faculty positions, staff layoffs, wage freezes and salary cuts at state colleges and universities. Institutions worked to close gaps opened by further reductions in state appropriations. Institutions were forced to cover remaining gaps through significant tuition and fee increases.