Butch Hulett on wed 24 apr 96
Yes, colleges should be able to charge for degree credit to offset real
costs. But should they not also be held accountable for inefficeint,
wasteful, and downright stupid misuse of the funds which taxpayers are asked
to make available to them. I have been working in and around such
institutions for 20+ years and if I had even a small percentage of the funds
which are lost through bungling, buracracy and poor planning and decisions
that I have personally witnessed, I would be retired and potting in the
Rockies.
For example:
A smokestack placed on kilnshed roof
materials cost ~$300.00 Charge to area budget $1700.00
A state computer contract with a low bidder who provided machines so poorly
built that they were unusable, yet the contract was paid.
Bill to paint office (8x10') $2700.00 Time required 4 months
One two story elevator - 7 months to build, so far (the Empire State building
was built in 24 months)
A purchasing system so slow that by the time equipment is ordered, the
company has closed.
Sculpture teacher told he has to buy hammers from on campus source ($27.00)
rather than local hardware store ($5.75)
A workorder is turned in to take a spray booth out of a room so it can be
turned into office for GTAs. TWO YEARS later, crew shows up to do the work.
Ignoring the obvious fact that the spray booth has been moved (done by GTAs
themselves one afternoon) and that it is now an office, they proceed to pile
all of the desks, computers and personal effects in the hall, tear out the
ceiling and walls, and leave.
20 computers (avg price $2500.00) are bought with funds designated for
student use and placed in an unsecured, unalarmed room with a hollow core
door with no deadbolt. A work order for the deadbolt and alarm is turned in,
A year goes by. One weekend 10 of the machines are taken, there is still no
deadbolt, no alarm. The insurance company refuses to replace the machines due
to the failure to provide a secure environment.
What percentage of classes at the last college you were at were taught by
adjunct or per-course instructors for ridiculous salaries and no benefits?
How many "administrative Assistants" litter up your administrative hallways
at $25,000 per year?
I applied to a workshop last year and was told that since I was coming from
out-of-state it would cost me an additional $1800.00 over the cost if I had
been in state, to receive credit for the course. This, in spite of the fact
that I would use no more resources than the in state student, in fact I would
provide my own food, lodging, and tools.
I'm sure that everyone out there has a plethora of similar and far worse
stories.
Those of us who teach may soon find ourselves facing an increasingly angry
public who demand that we find ways to produce a quality product (education)
at a reasonable price. Already it is becoming increasingly difficult to raise
money from members of the community to support art departments. They feel we
are too far-removed from the realities of economic life.
Perhaps we are.
Butch Hulett
butchhul@aol.com
dannon@ns1.koyote.com on wed 24 apr 96
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Yes, colleges should be able to charge for degree credit to offset real
>costs.
>
>I applied to a workshop last year and was told that since I was coming from
>out-of-state it would cost me an additional $1800.00 over the cost if I had
>been in state, to receive credit for the course. This, in spite of the fact
>that I would use no more resources than the in state student, in fact I would
>provide my own food, lodging, and tools.
>
>Butch Hulett
>butchhul@aol.com
>
>Shades of Tammany!! Of course, there are dreadful beaurocratic snafu's......
but, as regards in-state vs. out-state: In-state students are subsidized in
part by STATE taxes, and if you're not living there paying them, then they
charge the real cost of the course. Or something akin to the real cost.
Same everyplace I've been, at least. And that does not seem unreasonable.
Dannon Rhudy
Jim Connell on thu 25 apr 96
WINTHROP UNIVERSITY Electronic Mail Message
Date: 25-Apr-1996 10:00am EDT
From: James Connell
CONNELLJ
Dept: Art and Design
Tel No: 323-2126
TO: SMTP%"CLAYART@lsv.uky.edu" ( _SMTP%"CLAYART@lsv.uky.edu" )
Subject: Re: College Cost and Tuition
The high cost of education and the attempts to control the system by the
administrations and legislatures is well documented in this week's issue of
NEWSWEEK magazine. I recommend all those out there in academia to get a hold of
a copy and read this sobering report. Most of us have been apart of or have
heard of many of the situations they mention. Still it is interesting reading
and shows how the backlash that many state legislatures are instigating will
affect the future of higher education and the generations that follow.
Here in South Carolina the legislature is currently passing a bill that will
undermine the structure of tenure, academic freedom, research and thus quality
of education for all. Some changes are necessary and appropriate but to put the
control of education in the hands of politicians is scary to to say the least.
Jim in Carolina where the late spring arrival has meant that ALL the trees and
such are throwing out ALL their pollen at the same time and ALL of it seemes to
be collecting in my SINUSES.
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