However, these are difficult times for public institutions of higher education, because legislative appropriations are either flat or in the decline.
( However ( , ( these ( ( ( ( are ( difficult ( times ( for ( ( public institutions ) ( of ( higher education ) ) ) ) ) ) ) , ) ( because ( ( legislative appropriations ) ( are ( either ( ( flat or ) ( in ( the decline ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB However)) (, ,) (NP (DT these)) (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (JJ difficult) (PP (CC times) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (JJ public) (NNS institutions)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJR higher) (NN education))))))) (, ,) (SBAR (IN because) (S (NP (JJ legislative) (NNS appropriations)) (VP (VBP are) (UCP (RB either) (ADJP (JJ flat)) (CC or) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN decline)))))))) (. .)))
At the moment higher education institutions are thriving 
( ( At ( the moment ) ) ( ( higher ( education institutions ) ) ( are thriving ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (IN At) (NP (DT the) (NN moment))) (NP (JJR higher) (NN education) (NNS institutions)) (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (VBG thriving)))))