Category Archives: Education (higher ed)

The student-faculty ratio at William & Mary (gold line) has declined in recent years, resulting in higher enrollment capacity (blue bars). Source: College of William & Mary. (Click image to enlarge.)

by James A. Bacon

Higher-ed in the United States is experiencing an enrollment crisis: A smaller generation of college-age students, a higher cost of attendance, and abundant employment opportunities have contributed to a decline in enrollment at colleges and universities for eight years running. And that worries the administration of the College of William & Mary.

In November the Board of Visitors at William & Mary addressed what the downturn might mean to the university’s high-tuition financial model. Unless new revenue sources are identified and costs contained, warned a presentation by the Ad Hoc Committee on Organizational Sustainability and Innovation, “W&M will be engaged in ongoing cost cutting to remain financially stable.”

“Unless we change our revenue stream or our cost model — that is, what we spend and how we spend it — then we would be in an ongoing cost-cutting mode for the foreseeable future to make sure that we remain in a balanced position,” Sam Jones, senior vice president for finance and administration, told the board, as reported by the Virginia Gazette. “Now that’s a significant statement for us to make but it’s really what the data has shown.”

After years of boosting tuition — W&M is the most expensive public higher-ed institution in Virginia — market constraints limit tuition “as a strategy going forward,” stated the presentation. As alternatives, W&M could consider enrollment growth or cost containment through process improvement. Continue reading →

by James A. Bacon

Wow! Virginia Union University, a private, historically black university in Richmond, has announced that it will slash undergraduate tuition from $15,530 to $10,530 (not including the $1,753 in fees) — or 32% — in the fall of 2020. Room and board can add another $10,000 to the cost of attendance, depending upon the option chosen.

“We realize how crippling student loan debt has become for students nation-wide,” said Dr. Hakim Lucas, President & CEO of Virginia Union University. “Students enroll in college seeking a career path that will allow opportunity for long-term financial stability. However, they end up spending most of their working years paying back student loans. Virginia Union is doing what it can to ensure that students in the Commonwealth and across the nation have access to an education that will equip them with the tools they need to be successful, while avoiding the crippling bill waiting at the other end of graduation.”

While the cost of undergraduate tuition will go down, VUU will increase tuition for master’s or doctorate programs.

Bacon’s bottom line: A 32% tuition cut is a big deal. The first question that occurs: What drove the board of trustees to such an action? College boards rarely suffer crises of conscience over tuition hikes; they normally charge what the market will bear. Continue reading →

by James A. Bacon

In an effort to “level the playing field,” Governor Ralph Northam is proposing nearly $300 million in additional spending in the next two-year budget at Virginia’s two public historically black universities. Virginia State University would get $150 million more, and Norfolk State University would get $143 million more.

“Virginia’s historically black colleges and universities are tremendously important — but they have not always received the state funding they deserve,” he said in a statement Saturday, as reported by the Virginian-Pilot. “This budget package is about leveling the playing field and investing in these world-class institutions, so all students have equal access to a great higher education.”

Added Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky: “NSU and VSU are receiving a significant level of new funding when compared to many other public 4-year universities in the Commonwealth.”

The bulk of the money would be allocated to one-time capital expenditures.

Northam’s justification for this lavish treatment is that Virginia’s public HBCUs “have not always received the state funding they deserve.” The Virginian-Pilot article makes no mention of any evidence the governor might have cited to back up that assertion. Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard has updated its searchable database so students can see median earnings for disciplines in which 20 or more degrees are granted. Just for yuks, I checked the data for Virginia Commonwealth University where my son is enrolled. It will surprise no one to see that students earning computer science degrees will earn more than three times as much in their first year following graduation as those who earn degrees in drama, music and anthropology.

Parents, if your kid doesn’t consult this tool, you should! See what you’re getting for your investment in his or her college education. Find out how much you’ll have to subsidize the little darling when he graduates!

— JAB