In a letter today, Gov. Mark Sanford notes that education of young minds at state universities is as important to economic development as university research. He notes that tuition at state universities has risen beyond levels that many S.C. students can afford. Too much public money, he says, is going to research of dubious value.

He's correct. But like most past and present S.C. policymakers, Sanford would treat the system's symptoms with aspirin when only surgery of high political risk can cure the system.

South Carolina's public higher education spending per capita, as Sanford notes, compares favorably with that of most other states. However, the funding goes to 33 universities and colleges - far more per capita than most other states. There's so little money per institution to go around that the schools must charge high tuition to pay for faculty salaries and facilities. This forces some students to take on high loan debt while shutting others out entirely.

Sanford's solution is to redirect state support for some university research programs to S.C. college classrooms. He mentions the $145,200 grant to Clemson for turf grass research as an example. But even if legislators approved all of Sanford's executive-budget suggestions for higher education, the problem would remain. Spread among all 33 schools, the effect of the extra money would be diluted.

What's needed is a state distribution formula that supports institutions with growing enrollments while subtracting money from institutions where enrollments are declining.

Now, lawmakers hold colleges and universities harmless from spending cuts, regardless of what's happening with their enrollments.

Thus, as demand for admission at fast-growing Coastal Carolina University goes up, its state support as a share of operating expenses goes down. That support is currently at about 11 percent. Tuition rose again for the 2005-06 school year to $3,430 per semester for S.C. residents. That figure is based on 12 semester hours.

Until the politicians distribute higher education money rationally, S.C. students will continue to get less than they deserve from the higher education system. And the system will continue to be sick.