The nation’s governors have begun their annual round of State of the State addresses and budget proposals, and the news for higher education in most places, as predicted, is not good.

Gov. Jim Gibbons of Nevada, a Republican, proposed on Thursday a nearly 36-percent cut for higher education, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. Of the $633-million Governor Gibbons is proposing to slash from the state budget, 75 percent would come from the university system, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

As part of his proposed 16-percent cut in higher education, Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a Republican, is seeking to close three of the University of South Carolina’s two-year campuses, according to the Associated Press. That plan would save an estimated $2.4-million of the more than $117-million in general-fund cuts that Governor Sanford has put forward.

In Idaho, Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter, a Republican, has submitted a budget that cuts higher-education spending by 10 percent, about $9-million, according to the Idaho Statesman. And Gov. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, a Democrat, is proposing a 9-percent reduction, about $81-million, in higher-education spending over the next two years.

In a rare bright spot, Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont wants to raise higher-education funds by 20 percent. He is also recommending that the University of Vermont and Vermont State Colleges merge the administration of their two systems for efficiency. —Eric Kelderman