Struggling Sound: How Higher Ed Funding Cuts are Quietly Dismantling AV Investments
Sound Perspectives by Teddy Murphy
Higher education in the United States is caught in a financial bind that seems to be tightening by the day. Institutions are being forced to make hard decisions as state support declines, federal research dollars shrink, and donor contributions flatten. For many campuses, this has meant budget freezes, hiring pauses, and in some cases the outright cancellation of academic programs. The fallout may seem abstract at first glance, but for those of us in AV, the consequences are becoming visible in classrooms and lecture halls where technology is falling behind.
One of the most pressing issues right now stems from new restrictions on graduate and professional student funding. Federal borrowing caps and tighter limits on programs like PLUS loans are making advanced study less attainable for many students. As a result, enrollment in graduate programs is sliding, and in research-heavy fields, universities are even pulling back admissions offers. That shift creates ripple effects. Graduate students not only bring in tuition revenue, but they also often serve as instructors and teaching assistants, offsetting the labor costs of large undergraduate courses. When their numbers drop, both revenue and staffing shrink. And when revenue shrinks, AV is often among the first areas to see its budget carved away.
"when revenue shrinks, AV is often among the first areas to see its budget carved away"
This enrollment squeeze comes at a time when technological demands in higher education have never been greater. Faculty are still expected to support hybrid learning, lecture capture, and online collaboration, but the funds for refreshing microphones, DSPs, or camera systems are drying up. Many AV refresh cycles are being pushed years past their intended replacement dates. Large lecture halls once earmarked for system upgrades are left waiting indefinitely. I have several shared lecture halls and classrooms that are outdated and limping along, but different departments’ budgets have all been slashed and no one wants to take on the responsibility to finance the upgrades needed.
These failures aren’t just inconveniences. Poor audio and outdated systems erode engagement and comprehension, driving down both faculty satisfaction and student learning outcomes. At a moment when institutions need to fight harder than ever for enrollment and retention, the classroom experience is quietly weakening in the very spaces meant to showcase their academic strength. It’s particularly damaging for equity, as students who rely on clear classroom AV—whether for accessibility needs, hybrid learning, or lecture review—are disproportionately affected when the technology underperforms.
The story here is straightforward but sobering: as funding for higher education tightens, the invisible thread connecting enrollment, tuition revenue, and classroom technology frays. Graduate student limitations reduce the pipeline of learners and educators. Enrollment declines drive budget cuts. And budget cuts leave classrooms outfitted with failing audio systems and outdated capture tools that were never designed to meet today’s expectations.
For AV professionals, the challenge is to make this impact visible to leadership. Classroom technology cannot be treated as a luxury line item. It is core infrastructure for teaching and learning, and ultimately for student success. If institutions allow it to decay, the long-term costs—lower retention, reduced accessibility, and declining reputation—will far outweigh the short-term savings.
"Classroom technology cannot be treated as a luxury line item. It is core infrastructure for teaching and learning"
