That figure reflects the impact on four-year institutions, community and technical colleges and other programs that fall under the commission's parameters, commission spokeswoman Ashley Schumaker said.

Tomblin recently called for some state agencies to trim 7.5 percent from the budgets they will proposed for the state fiscal year that starts next July 1. The cuts would save the state $85 million as the administration anticipates a $390 million budget gap for next fiscal year.

Some programs, including the state school aid formula for elementary and secondary schools, are exempt. On Friday, the policy commission officially asked Tomblin to exempt higher education as well, Schumaker said.

The request compliments Tomblin for his "financially responsible leadership" and thanks him for his commitment to students but states that the cuts would hinder the ability of institutions to "fulfill their academic and service missions."

"The proposed reduction will also increase the burden of student loans for current and future students, ultimately negatively impacting the accessibility and affordability of higher education for all West Virginians," the request states.

Tomblin spokeswoman Amy Shuler Goodwin said the governor received the letter Friday.

"The state is operating on a budget surplus, and it remains strong because Gov. Tomblin continues to make fiscal responsibility a priority," Goodwin wrote in an email. "We are asking agencies to do more with less as we prepare for the future."

The cuts present a "significant budget challenge" for Marshall University, in the view of its president, Stephen Kopp.

He said the 7.5 percent reduction would mean $5.1 million for Marshall and its School of Medicine, according to a statement to faculty and staff posted on the university's website Monday.

The statement also indicated there might be mid-year budget cuts.

"Today, it is important that you understand a reduction in state appropriations approximating this forecasted level will definitely require us to make considerable changes," Kopp said in the statement. "We all need to prepare for that during the coming months."

West Virginia University would lose about $12 million of its state appropriations, Narvel Weese, vice president for administration and finance, said through a spokesperson.

Weese characterized the cuts as significant and said WVU supports the commission's request for an exemption.

Administrators at West Virginia State University should anticipate almost $1 million in cuts, according to commission data. Budget issues have grown at the Institute-based university in recent years, reportedly playing a role in a no-confidence vote cast by the faculty against then-President Hazo Carter last summer.

Donna Simon, vice president of university relations and chief of staff for new president Brian Hemphill, said the university isn't certain how the cuts would affect the school. Proposed funding cuts "of this magnitude" could mean staff reductions, elimination of services or consolidation of departments, she said.

She would not comment on whether West Virginia State supported the commission's request.    

In his statement, Kopp said a more precise level of cuts would come out following budget discussions during next year's legislative session.

James Skidmore, chancellor for the state's community and technical and college system, said the same last week after a meeting with state budget officials and Chancellor Paul Hill.

Last week, the council for community and technical colleges passed a resolution that said it would recommend no tuition increases at any of its institutions if the state would exempt the system from cuts. Institutions can increase tuition by up to 5 percent without council approval, Skidmore said at the meeting.  

Contact writer Dave Boucher at 304-348-4843 or david.bouc...@dailymail.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/Dave_Boucher1.