Big Academia in Washington is about to take a (s)hit.
20% Cuts May Be Ahead for State Colleges, Universities
Just a few months ago, the University of Washington was celebrating the end of a huge, successful fundraising campaign and was planning to double enrollment at its branch campuses.But within the last two weeks, the outlook for the state’s universities and community colleges has tanked so precipitously it has taken many by surprise. It also has exposed just how vulnerable those institutions remain to the vagaries of economic cycles.
Now, the UW and other institutions are trying to figure out ways to plug a yawning budget gap. Officials at several universities are already talking about raising tuition by 10 to 15 percent next year — perhaps $1,000 per student. That would require lawmakers to lift the current limit on schools of 7 percent in tuition increases annually.
At the UW, one option under consideration for the first time is differential tuition — in which juniors and seniors would be charged more than underclassmen. At Western Washington University, budget experts are running the numbers on how much they could save by having some full-time staff work 80 percent of their current schedules.
With all of the ink and pixels being spent these days about CEO salaries and bonuses, I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that these simplistic solutions aren’t being bandied about on this particular topic
University of Washington, Washington State University Presidents among the Highest Paid
University of Washington President Mark Emmert was the second-highest-paid public university executive last year, according to an analysis by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
And Washington State University President Elson Floyd isn’t far behind. Though he came in at 17th on the Chronicle’s list, his actual ranking could be as high as sixth in the nation among public university presidents, because of a recent pay raise.
Folks are screaming for the heads of the automakers to “Do the Lee Iacocca” and take $1 per year salary. That works for me, but I’m wondering why there is not the same hue and cry for these guys to do the same.
Boggles the mind. Well, maybe not the incurious mind.
I note that that just across the Mighty Columbia, in Oregon, there is no corresponding rush to slash the budgets of academia, even though Oregon is facing a huge revenue shortfall due to the recession/depression. I also haven’t heard of such a drastic cut being proposed in Idaho, which actually WILL cut a budget to stay within it’s limits.
From an Oregon Duck fan’s perspective, the answer is obvious, people have lost respect for the University system because The Husky and Cougar football programs suck so badly.
At least someone is trying to be reasonable.
Well since it sounds like you’re on the west side you didn’t hear about the WSU Provost BS. Guy kept 9/11ths of his pay, and he’s no longer even provost. He’s teaching history.
Normal salary for a high end history prof is about 65 to 70k, he’s getting $245 a year.
Yeah they put it in his contract, why we’ll never know. But with everyone stripping excess you’ve got this prick. I don’t know what exactly happened but it’s bull.