At Public Universities: Less for More (New York Times) - Page 2

mom2collegekids · 10-30-2009, 02:54 PM

>>>
T&F is only part of the cost. To compare the real cost, you must include R&B. See feature thread "Most expensive college dorms".
<<<<

Good point...however there are several factors to keep in mind...

1) High dorm rates may reflect high cost of living in the area

2) high dorm rates may be caused by recent dorm remodeling or new building

3) high dorm rates for "sub-standard" dorms may be "hidden tuition".

barrons · 10-30-2009, 03:11 PM

USC eliminated its entire German department so some privates are cutting too. Many are on hiring freezes.

mom2collegekids · 10-30-2009, 03:25 PM

^^^
Really???!!!!

Wow...current students have to go elsewhere?

Was this a complete German Department, or was this a German "track" (of say 32 credits required) within a Foreign Language & Literature major?

tsdad · 10-30-2009, 03:28 PM

Barrons:

USC eliminated its German Department (announced in April 2008) because they had few majors (10) and only three tenured faculty members two of whom were near retirement. The department hadn't hired anyone since 1991, and USC had been starving it for many years. While it is probably unwise for a major University to be without a German Department the closing wasn't done because USC is hard up for money.

barrons · 10-30-2009, 03:40 PM

Nice excuses but cutting a core world language is a shortcoming they were roundly criticized for by others.

News: Das Ende for German at USC - Inside Higher Ed

mom2collegekids · 10-30-2009, 04:23 PM

^^^

I might be able to understand not having a German major anymore, but does that mean no German minor and/or no German classes at all will be offered for those in international studies or international business?

Entertainer · 10-30-2009, 05:02 PM

I'm glad to be a student at the University of Michigan. Simply because, we are still prospering despite the economic recession. Even though I pay out of state tuition, it's worth it. My family isn't poor either. Average salary for students at the University of Michigan is about 200,000. Many families can afford the education. The education is top-notch, the atmosphere is amazing, and the faculty is very knowledgeable. Even though we lost 20% of our endowment, it is still the 6th or 7th highest in the nation.

I hear that UCLA library hours were cut or something of the sort. What beats the 24 hour Duderstat library at Michigan? Nothing!

BCEagle91 · 10-30-2009, 05:08 PM

> Average salary for students at the University of Michigan is about 200,000.

That's pretty impressive. Do you have a link to statistics showing this?

> So many families can afford the education.

I guess so.

> The education is top-notch, the atmosphere is amazing, and the faculty (for the
> most part are great. Even though we lost 20% of our endowment, it is still the 6th
> or 7th highest in the nation.

Do you have the amount handy?

> I hear that UCLA library hours were cut or something of the sort. What beats the 24
> hour Duderstat library at Michigan? Nothing!

How are the first year writing courses at Michigan?

Entertainer · 10-30-2009, 05:14 PM

Well our endowment was 7.6 Billion. It is now about 5.6 Billion. A more than 20% reduction. This number comes from Mary Sue Coleman's: State of the University Address: "Our endowment – one of the largest among public universities – is down more than 20 percent. No organization can absorb a 20 percent loss in investments and not feel it, but we are slowly recovering, because of an investment strategy that is conservative, highly diversified, and squarely focused on long-term performance. " http://umich.edu/pres/speech/speeches/091004sotu.php

"According to the most recent survey of freshmen, about 14% reported family incomes below $50,000. About 31% reported family incomes between $50,000 and $100,000, and about 55% reported family incomes greater than $100,000." The average is 200,000. This number comes from several of the RA's, professors and advisors that I have talked to.

First year writing isn't too bad from what I have heard. I haven't taken it yet. I'm not sure of the quality, but most students say that it is very helpful, especially if you use campus resources, such as the Sweet land Writing Center.

Also what is interesting is, despite the economic recession U-M spent about 200 million more dollars this year on research alone. Our research output is about 1.02 billion dollars now. All statistics can be found at U-M website.

dstark · 10-30-2009, 05:16 PM

How are the first year writing courses at Michigan?

I hear they are pretty good.

I think the average family income is over $100,000... $200,000 looks a little rich. They were over $100,000 5 years ago. With this economy, are they higher or lower now?

UMich does have one of the larger endowments.

The school is doing well. The school has been adjusting to an economic reality for 30 years. As the article in the NY Times states.

BCEagle91, if you like big oos schools, Mich is a pretty good school. Check it out.

Edit: So the median is a little higher than $100,000.

Entertainer, glad you like the school.

Entertainer · 10-30-2009, 05:24 PM

I love it here. The academics are very hard, but with effort and determination, nothing is impossible. I would recommend U-M to any student. They are generous, in terms of aid for students that really need it. At times I think U-M has to be an expensive school 7% funding for the state is abysmal. Not only that, the economy of Michigan is awful. Few people stay in Michigan after graduating. Although I would say a Michigan degree is very well respected (From what I hear). U-M over enrolled by about 500 students this year. The incoming class size was 6071. It is a very big school, but I guess that can be a positive or negative aspect.

dstark · 10-30-2009, 05:34 PM

When I visited many times, I always enjoyed the school and Ann Arbor. Well, not the weather.

I loved the school spirit. And the academics looked damn hard to me.

Bu you're right, my daughter left. Her boyfriend left. Most of her roommates left the state after they graduated. They were oos and they didn't stay.

I liked Mary Sue Coleman's speech.

Entertainer · 10-30-2009, 05:40 PM

Yea the weather is pretty bad. People leaving the state after they graduate negatively affects the school and the state. Ann Arbor is a very nice town/small city. It is rated one of the best college towns. School spirit is on another level here. EVERYONE has school spirit and pride. Some people think its annoying, but I think its great, especially at sporting events like Football Saturdays.

I was wondering: Because of the recession many public universities have lost funding. Are public universities going to drastically increase tuition rates for the 2010-11 school year?

dstark · 10-30-2009, 05:44 PM

I think the increases for public schools this year is over 6%. This is a lot considering the economy is weak and there isn't supposed to be any inflation.

Some day the increases are going to slow down. I don't think they are for the next couple of years. The schools need the money. So the student bodies of the top schools will probably come from more wealthy families.

UMich is definitely not cheap.

arabrab · 10-30-2009, 06:03 PM

I don't think that German is realistically a "core" world language any more. Our high school is phasing it out in one more year, only one middle school offers it, and enrollments are very, very low. At some point teachers and parents with students in packed Spanish and French classes that often have 33-36 students pointed out the disparity of German classes with 7-12 kids in each grade level. We started offering Chinese two years ago, and enrollments are already much, much higher than German has had any time in the past ten years. Students are voting with their feet, and German isn't what they're voting for. It would be foolish for colleges not to consider that.