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"Some college administrators seem so distracted with fund raising, academic infighting, and community initiatives that they set up their emergency communications departments very poorly. Training is poor to nonexistent, secretaries are pressed into service with tremendous responsibilities for running 'notification systems' 24/7 and on weekends because no one else knows how to do it and the administration won’t pay for additional staff. Procedures are seat-of-the-pants and dependent on HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion), except when something like Virginia Tech happens and there is some sort of scramble to do something different." --Donna
Most Colleges Avoid Risk Management, Report Says
Jill Biden Shines a Global Spotlight on American Community Colleges
Speaking at a Unesco conference in Paris, the vice president’s wife stressed the importance of two-year institutions to the nation’s educational goals.
Connecticut Public Colleges Lose 200 Professors to Early Retirement
Administrators are scrambling to plug holes in their course schedules for fall, with most expecting to do so by hiring more adjuncts or increasing class sizes.
U. of Georgia Paid 2 Fraternities $2.4-Million to Relocate, Contracts Show
The two were among five with houses on property where the university plans to build new academic facilities.
New Allegations in Admissions Controversy at U. of Illinois Suggest Ex-Provost Played a Role
Linda P.B. Katehi, the incoming chancellor of the University of California at Davis, has insisted she knew nothing of the admission of politically connected applicants at Illinois.
Sonoma State U. Foundation May Lose $350,000 on Loan to Former Board Member
The foundation will be forced to issue fewer scholarships in the 2010-11 academic year because of a diminished endowment, a university official said.
College Suspends Student for Working in Gay Pornography | 58
President Obama's Visit to Notre Dame Carries Barely a Hint of Controversy That Preceded It | 58
Drug Sting Nabs 21 Students at U. of Illinois | 57
Faculty Members and Union Protest Staff Layoffs at Temple U. as 'Cruel' | 57
North Dakota Board's Vote Puts 'Fighting Sioux' Mascot on Thinner Ice | 57
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November 13, 2008
Dartmouth Cuts Budget and Says Layoffs May Be Needed
James Wright, president of Dartmouth College, said in a community letter today that Dartmouth would cut its budget up to 10 percent in the next two years and may reduce its staff to do so.
Dartmouth, like almost all colleges, has suffered significant losses in its endowment because of the declining financial markets. Investment income from the endowment, which was $3.8-billion at the end of 2007 and is down more than $200-million since then, makes up more than one-third of the college’s budget.
In the letter, Mr. Wright said that the college anticipated needing a 10-percent cut — or $40-million — over the next two fiscal years, and that employee compensation would need to be part of that reduction. “Attrition will be the preferred approach to this,” he wrote, “but it is not likely to be sufficient to meet our objectives.”
His announcement follows statements from Harvard University and many other colleges and universities that the financial crisis was forcing them to make tough choices about reducing expenses.
In another Dartmouth letter sent today, Barry P. Scherr, the provost, and Adam M. Keller, the executive vice president for finance and administration, wrote that they expected the college would have fewer employees in the coming years, but they were committed to supporting those affected through the transition.
They also announced a freeze on outside hiring of staff members and delays in certain projects, and they asked for student, staff, and faculty input on how to cut the budget. —Kathryn Masterson
Posted on Thursday November 13, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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Big Deal!
Welcome to the real world.
— Perry Stalsis Nov 13, 08:15 PM #
You have to wonder if colleges (among other corporate entities) aren’t taking advantage of the national financial crisis to trim their fat, reset their sails. Maybe not, but I’ve always had the feeling that college presidents aren’t as stupid as they claim to be. They certainly aren’t courageous, but I don’t believe they’re stupid.
Ya’ — as language lovers say nowadays — think?
— S. Britchky Nov 14, 05:24 AM #
Welcome to the great recession. If these lean times run past Obama’s first term, there will be a certain percentage of colleges and universities on the ropes financially or bidding the nation farewell.
— Thomas Nov 14, 06:28 AM #
It IS a big deal… Especially for those working at Dartmouth and other Ivy League Colleges. This is huge. Another, not discussed biproduct of such a plan is cuts in charitable contributions to needy foundations, cuts in medical research and in scientific ventures. Plus, tuition may go up to even high dollar amounts making it that much more exclusive and difficult for valuable minds to achieve higher learning.
— Emerson Nov 14, 07:07 AM #
As an alum, I read the letters on email yesterday. What is necessary at many institutions is prudent at Dartmouth and similar places.
— A. G. Rud Nov 14, 07:29 AM #
are we to understand that an endowment of $3.8 billion is ot sufficient to sustain a great university?
probably every university would be wise to submit to a true examination of expenses but isn’t it disingenuous to contend that a large endowment is needed to help offset difficult times? the overwhelming majority of colleges and universities “get by” and make things work on endowments that are literally a fraction of those at Dartmouth, Harvard, et.al.
— c bade Nov 14, 09:44 AM #
“are literally a fraction of”
is equivalent to
“are less than”
I don’t think literally means what you think it means, or else you’re confused about the concept of a fraction.
More seriously, I bet some schools are using this slump to justify making wise but politically difficult budget moves. Good for them.
— PLW Nov 14, 10:03 AM #
“Plus, tuition may go up to even high dollar amounts making it that much more exclusive and difficult for valuable minds to achieve higher learning.”
I disagree. There are many superb public universities that are much more affordable. All those valuable minds can go to a public university and be very well served. No one NEEDS to go to a private Ivy League school.
— ap Nov 14, 11:01 AM #
I know, I know, we should all make light of the rich Ivies and their rich kids having to do with less than their unfair share (sour grapes, anyone?) – but it is never a good thing when a college, or any public or private institution engaged in one of society’s most important functions, has to scale back anything. Let’s just hope Dartmouth and the rest of higher ed can recoup in the long (and preferably shorter) run. Good luck Dartmouth.
— Rusty Nov 14, 11:17 AM #
We “trench workers”, not only at institutions of privilege but in large businesses throughout the country, know MUCH can be trimmed from budgets before affecting those employed by or benefitting from these entities—perks ranging from free office snacks and meals to only peripherally work-related travel and conferences to huge perks of vehicles, homes, stock options, hefty salaries, and bonuses (the list goes on infinitely) to upper echelon within the organizations, not to mention money squandered on advertising and name-branding, paper and special stationery products (electronic communication usually suffices), and publications few people care to even open, let alone read, to the detriment of the environment. Have any of you who maintain such lofty ideals of the higher education enterprise ever really questioned the benefit of so much squandered resources to THE MISSION?
It would be refreshing if business as usual in this country whereby resources are so thoughtlessly squandered, whereby those who can least afford it are most adversely impacted, and whereby the rich grow richer would drastically change.
— KAR Nov 14, 01:10 PM #
KAR,
Couldn’t agree more. I got a useless full-color newsletter/magazine in my dept mailbox yesterday and as I went to toss it I saw several of them already in the bin. Paper, ink, energy, money, labor all straight to the trash while our university has a hiring freeze.
— AG Nov 14, 01:18 PM #