Get Schooled

By Ernest

July 28, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

I think hearing the request for ‘education cuts’ causes most to be initially concerned. IMO, it would be helpful if forensic audits could be performed to to ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely. I’m sure some look at the vast amounts of dollars raised by some ‘football factories’ thinking monies should be there but those dollars aren’t in play.

The irony of this is there was a two part story in the USA Today last week regarding the increase of enrollment in community colleges and their subsequent requests for more funding to accommodate these students. Many are realizing that in this competitive global economy we are in now that the more ‘paper’ one earns with education can impact the amount of ‘paper’ they can make on a job.

By Tony

July 28, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

So, we are now to cater to students at the college level. This would set very dangerous precedents. Colleges are more easily able to pass along costs to their students. Of course, this may counteract the tuition guarantee implemented by the chancellor.

Large class sizes are nothing new at the college level. While it is great to hear that college enrollment is increasing, perhaps our colleges need to limit their enrollment to those best qualified to attend.

By simon

July 28, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

An easy place to start might be administration - there are so many VP’s in today’s colleges. On the other hand, the question may be similar to whether or not companies really need their CEO’s.

Most likely, the cut will come from the reduction of faculty members - perhaps not necessarily the permanent cut, but delaying the replacements for retirement, etc. first. Of course, if you cut faculty, you will have to hire more part-timers to staff all course offerings.

I don’t know exactly what percentage of the operating budget of a public university comes from the state, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was 50% or less, and shrinking. The remainder must come from other sources - tuition being one such source.

An easy way for a college to coop with the reduced state funding may be to limit the enrollment, but the state usually would not allow that. So, colleges/universities must deal with the unfunded mandate of an increased access (enrollment) with a decreased support from the state.

Another possibility would be a tuition increase - which will probably be the worst PR issue.

Unlike public school funding, I don’t think the funding for colleges/universities is based on per-student cost, which creates a vast inequities. Perhaps the state might want to reconsider the way colleges are funded.

By shadow7071

July 28, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

IMHO, it’s all very simple. First, we have more students not finishing high school. Second, we have more students less qualified in math, science, reading and social studies. The result is that fewer students are prepared for college work. Therefore, we don’t need as many college resources. A five percent cut is justified.

By Lee

July 28, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Blowin’ smoke…

If the most educated folks in Ga can’t figure out how to trim a mere 5% out of their budget, how does that bode for the rest of us mere mortals?

I don’t remember them fretting too much when they were increasing tuition an average of 15% per year while the inflation rate was running 3-4%.

You know, the more education I attained, the less impressed I became with the educated.

Or, put another way, as an eighteen year old freshman, I looked in wonder and awe at those professors with their Phd’s and high falutin’ way of talk. As a 35 year old MBA grad, I began to realize how full of sh1t they really were. We used to take odds on how long those 28 year old PHD wonderboys would last in the “real world.”

Of course, that was fifteen years ago. If I were to go back to school now, I would be known as “that old guy who wants to argue about every damn thing.” Might even take to wearing my wife’s “Born to B***” tee shirt.

By jim d

July 28, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

The kids school of choice increased tuition rates this year by 8%.

Does it matter? Not really if that is the school one wishes to attend.

By jim d

July 28, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

here’s the problem as I see it.

While the Education Lottery was designed to cut the amount families paid for college, the infusion of money in the form of scholarship (and the resultant shift away from direct General Fund appropriations for operations) has driven up tuition so high that its growth has actually outpaced the savings it initially offered to students in the form of scholarships.

When the schools began receiving greater revenues through tuition (which was supplemented by scholarships), the General Assembly actually decreased the State Reoccurring Appropriation and continues to do so.

By simon

July 28, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

We used to take odds on how long those 28 year old PHD wonderboys would last in the “real world.”

Probably longer than 28 year old HS drop out or 28 year old burger flippers with college degrees, or 35 year old MBA, etc. will survive in an academia.

First, we have more students not finishing high school. Second, we have more students less qualified in math, science, reading and social studies. The result is that fewer students are prepared for college work. Therefore, we don’t need as many college resources. A five percent cut is justified.

Except the conclusion doesn’t follow from the premises - there are more students attending colleges…

By Lee

July 28, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

“Probably longer than … 35 year old MBA, etc. will survive in an academia.”

Actually, one of the best instructors I had was a semi-retired VP of Sales who moonlighted at the local college I attended. Marketing Management was always “fuzzy logic” to me. This guy had the real world experience to make the concepts come to life.

By catlady

July 28, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

The lottery and HOPE have had many (perhaps) unintended consequences. One of them is the significant increases in tuition/fees in the 15 or so years since HOPe began.

It has allowed most of the colleges to aspire to perhaps unnaturally high levels of status, which has allowed them to expand their goals and the cocomittant perks, like the highest tech labs, etc.

HOPE has also given some pretty marginal students an opportunity to “try out” college for a year, with the attendant need to provide housing, classes, etc.

Georgia is going to have to decide how it wants to structure its system of higher ed. Right now, there is a great deal of duplication and overlap. This might be a chance to put it all together into a coherent, more cost effective plan. Continued redundancy is inefficient and a disservice to students and taxpayers, who heavily subsidize public college tuition here in Georgia. Problem is, everyone guards his own little fiefdom.

By Wow

July 28, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this

Nice plagiarism, jim d! The “way you see it” came directly from this article: http://thevoiceforschoolchoice.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/why-sc-college-tuition-is-soaring/

I knew you couldn’t have formed a grammatically correct paragraph!

By TheBlogger

July 28, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

Higher ed in GA has gone the way of public education. Costs have gone up primarily due to administrative costs and outrageous luxuries.

So, now cuts will have to be made. Be honest. Don’t we all know that the administrative costs and those luxuries will not be touched. Don’t we all know that the cuts will be inside the classroom and will hurt the students - just like public school cuts. Class sizes will increase, building maintenance will be cut, no classroom supplies will be purchased, etc.

Just like public school teachers, the salaries of GA college professors are pitifully low (for their degrees/level of education) especially compared to other comparable universities in the US. However, cuts in those salaries will probably also occur.

But, the ridiculously large salaries of the administration/management and their sisters/brothers/aunts/uncles/friends that are the secretaries and “assistants” will remain the same - or even increase.

This is the way “it has been, it is, and it will be” until the people in GA insist upon a change - forced by passage of a State law regulating this stuff.

By simon

July 28, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this

But, the ridiculously large salaries of the administration/management and their sisters/brothers/aunts/uncles/friends that are the secretaries and “assistants” will remain the same - or even increase.

TheBlogger, do you actually have any data to support this claim? I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but is this an issue of perception or is this the reality? Also, just like corporate CEO’s, we do also have to think about the monies that some administrators do bring to colleges/universities, which are more and more needed as less and less of the operation budget comes from the state.

By jim d

July 29, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this

WOW,

Like Gilda Radner as Rosanne Rosannadanna used to say,“It’s like my father always said to me, he said to me, he said, Roseanna Roseanadana, it’s always something. If it isn’t one thing—it’s another! It’s always something.”

And as her character Miss Litella would say “Never Mind”

By WFC

July 29, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

Random thoughts:

• We need research schools but not that many. The power and glory in academia is in research and publishing. Anyone know the % of faculty salaries that goes to the people who actually teach?

• I’m oh so tired of hearing about the glories of “the real world.” Banks are dropping like flies because the “real world Einstein” CEO’s can’t figure out that you don’t loan money to people who can’t repay it. Even a 28 year old PhD can figure that out.

• Too many unqualified students are enrolled in 4-year colleges. Parents are sooooooo unrealistic but that’s the “American Dream.”

By Megan

August 6, 2008 5:55 AM | Link to this

Simon-

In 2005, the president of Georgia State University was making $688,406 a year. One can only imagine how much he is making now. Or even better, how much they are going to offer to the candidates for the job now that Carl Patton is retiring.

By Megan

August 6, 2008 6:02 AM | Link to this

And might I add, Carl Patton isn’t the only college president in that tax bracket. 7 schools in the U.S. have presidents with salaries upwards of $1million a year…

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V125/N56/56nytsalaries.html