Talking Stick - May/June 2009 - 27

Q As a former leader in the state system in North Carolina, you obviously have significant experience in working with institutions on how best to fund campus initiatives and yet also be cognitive of the rising costs to students. Generally speaking, what do you think is the best philosophy or position for institutions to take when it comes to enhancing the student experience related to providing modern services and amenities and balancing that with the cost to the student? Should we be providing as many of the amenities we see today in student affairs and housing in particular, or should these programs be scaling back – and if so to what extent? MCB: Obviously, this is a difficult time for higher education. The economic downturn has had an unprecedented impact on institutions across the country, and they may never be able to operate in the same way again. Every revenue stream has been affected, as have endowments and state and federal budgets. At this time, college and university presidents are reexamining every facet of their campus budgets. All are attempting to find the difficult balance between preserving the academic core while maintaining student services. Given the depth of the recession, many are rightly forgoing or postponing amenities and programs that are important but can be deferred in order to preserve or increase student aid or to fund key teaching and research priorities. I expect this will be the case until the economy rights itself. What do you feel is the perception of our nation’s elected officials regarding higher education and the costs to students? Are colleges and universities still viewed highly and as being essential to the national economy, or are legislators really growing weary of the costs of higher education? MCB: Higher education will play a central role in our nation’s economic recovery and our future competitiveness in a global economy. In the early days of the Obama administration, higher education has been placed front and center, both in the president’s February address to a joint session of Congress and in his 2010 budget proposal. These new proposals, which will enhance access to and upgrade research facilities, offer exciting new possibilities for colleges and universities. However, the cost of higher education remains front and center with students, families, and policy makers. While families still believe that higher education is a necessity for improving the lives of their students, it is also clear that concern about cost, especially in these times of economic uncertainty, weighs heavily on families and students. We must do a better job of being transparent, explaining our costs and making the point that there is significant student aid available to help defray costs. What funds will be available in the stimulus package to help higher education institutions and student affairs and housing departments in particular to weather the current economic storm? MCB: The stimulus package includes funding for campus infrastructure, but primarily in the area of research, through the National Institutes of Health, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. It is possible that states may choose to use state fiscal stabilization funds to ameliorate cuts to their higher education budgets. Using these funds to backstop earlier cuts may help protect student affairs and housing programs from additional budget reductions. However, there are no guarantees that funds will be used this way. The cost for operating our higher education institutions continues to rise and yet there seems to be this feeling on the part of the public that higher education increases are outpacing inflation. How do you suggest institutions should respond to this public perception? MCB: Our research shows that the public consistently overestimates the cost of higher education, in some cases by as much as three times. They also consistently underestimate the amount of financial assistance available to students and families. Institutions must redouble efforts to explain their costs and to demystify student aid because sticker prices often lead families to believe that college is unaffordable. Colleges and universities should also engage in a conversation about costs and the economies they are undertaking on campus. May + June 2009 a 27
Talking Stick - May/June 2009

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