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EDITORIAL: Keep education affordable at UW
Shouldn't Wisconsin's ability to pay be a consideration, too?
ONE OF THE POINTS on which Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green scored a direct hit in the recently completed campaign dealt with affordability in the University of Wisconsin system. Green was critical of whopping tuition increases in recent years.
Tuition costs for families have been rising at a rate far in excess of annual inflationary figures. In fact, tuition costs are up more than 50 percent in the past five years.
So how does the UW brass respond to that affordability crisis?
HERE'S HOW: The administration is requesting across-the-board raises of 7.35 percent each year in the 2007-09 biennial budget, to cover boosts for administrators, faculty and staff.
The prevailing rate of inflation for 2006 is projected at about 3.8 percent by the U.S. Department of Labor, driven significantly by high energy costs. The rate is expected to decline for 2007 and beyond.
So why 7.35 percent, in each of two years?
That same, tired old argument: The UW doesn't pay enough and is at a competitive disadvantage with other schools, according to President Kevin Reilly.
THAT'S A RACKET. Find other schools that pay more, plead competitive poverty, get a big raise. Then those other schools point to the big raises, plead poverty for themselves, and get a big raise. And the cycle starts over.
In any industry it's important to stay competitive. But, often, smart managers want to be somewhere in the middle - not toward the bottom, not toward the top. That keeps the hiring process in the competitive game, but also seeks the biggest bang for the buck. And it may help attract the up-and-comers, rather than over-paying for those whose best achievements may be behind them.
No better example can be found than in the professional sports talent market. The guy just looking for the biggest paycheck too often is trading on his reputation, and proves to be a disappointment.
LOOK, WE BELIEVE America is in the midst of a global economic revolution in which knowledge is the principal tool. It is imperative that Wisconsin keep the UW system adequately funded and among the best institutions of its kind.
But that's not a blank check. And the state's strategies cannot be divorced from citizens' ability to pay. Just jacking tuition annually and piling on excessive raises will not necessarily produce the kind of results Wisconsin needs and deserves.
What good is higher education if it's priced beyond the means of everyday folks?
ONE OF THE POINTS on which Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green scored a direct hit in the recently completed campaign dealt with affordability in the University of Wisconsin system. Green was critical of whopping tuition increases in recent years.
Tuition costs for families have been rising at a rate far in excess of annual inflationary figures. In fact, tuition costs are up more than 50 percent in the past five years.
So how does the UW brass respond to that affordability crisis?
HERE'S HOW: The administration is requesting across-the-board raises of 7.35 percent each year in the 2007-09 biennial budget, to cover boosts for administrators, faculty and staff.
The prevailing rate of inflation for 2006 is projected at about 3.8 percent by the U.S. Department of Labor, driven significantly by high energy costs. The rate is expected to decline for 2007 and beyond.
So why 7.35 percent, in each of two years?
That same, tired old argument: The UW doesn't pay enough and is at a competitive disadvantage with other schools, according to President Kevin Reilly.
THAT'S A RACKET. Find other schools that pay more, plead competitive poverty, get a big raise. Then those other schools point to the big raises, plead poverty for themselves, and get a big raise. And the cycle starts over.
In any industry it's important to stay competitive. But, often, smart managers want to be somewhere in the middle - not toward the bottom, not toward the top. That keeps the hiring process in the competitive game, but also seeks the biggest bang for the buck. And it may help attract the up-and-comers, rather than over-paying for those whose best achievements may be behind them.
No better example can be found than in the professional sports talent market. The guy just looking for the biggest paycheck too often is trading on his reputation, and proves to be a disappointment.
LOOK, WE BELIEVE America is in the midst of a global economic revolution in which knowledge is the principal tool. It is imperative that Wisconsin keep the UW system adequately funded and among the best institutions of its kind.
But that's not a blank check. And the state's strategies cannot be divorced from citizens' ability to pay. Just jacking tuition annually and piling on excessive raises will not necessarily produce the kind of results Wisconsin needs and deserves.
What good is higher education if it's priced beyond the means of everyday folks?
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of beloitdailynews.com.
Ralph Morrison wrote on Nov 14, 2006 1:39 PM:
" "THAT'S A RACKET. Find other schools that pay more, plead competitive poverty, get a big raise. Then those other schools point to the big raises, plead poverty for themselves, and get a big raise. And the cycle starts over."
Suggest next time you do a little research before you pound the keyboard. For each of the UW campuses, a group of peers has been identified. Every year a yardstick is used to determine where we sit amongst the peers, and the recommended adjustments do exactly what you suggest -- shoot for the middle.
UW-Madison is the crown jewel of the UW System and a tremendous asset to the state. It is in the state's economic interest to keep the flagship campus at the top of the list of public universities in the country. Once the reputation is lost, it is virtually impossible to regain.
Again, do some research before you pound the keyboard next time! "
Parker wrote on Nov 14, 2006 2:12 PM:
" You're only telling part of the story. It would be useful to review the history of pay increases for university faculty and staff (and other state, non-classified employees) over the past three or four years. Check them out and ask yourself: Would I be happy with them, despite my best effort to do a good job? If so, then, march into your boss's office and demand the same pay increases. "
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Mike Cuthbert wrote on Nov 14, 2006 9:25 AM: