If a college/university was to cut spending/save money, what area would most likely be affected?

Without raising their overall tuition?

Depends on the college and its other constraints. Some examples:

  • Change recruiting and admission criteria to admit more non-FA students.
  • Eliminate underenrolled programs and courses.
  • Increase class sizes, so that the same number of students can be taught by fewer instructors.

Having experienced that in IL, first to go seemed to be grounds keeping and building maintenance.

Plus hire more senior administrators to oversee the changes! :smiley: Vice President for Downsizing for example.

Would would actually make a difference: fire many of the non-teaching, non-researching administrators. What they will do: literally anything else.

@TomSrOfBoston and @Mandalorian - you are singing the song of my people.

First thing my U did in 2008 was a hiring freeze and get rid of many staff, some of whom had been lifers and were offered retirement incentives. Be careful what you wish for. They turned down the heat, which was noticeable all across campus, changed library hours and other things. But just as fast, they opened a new pool of FA for affected students/families. At DH’s college, everyone got a salary freeze, which lasted several years. Class size grew.

A lot of people gripe about bloat, but at the same time want their paperwork processed quickly, a pretty campus, enough faculty and security, the campus bus service. Kids complain about dorm amenities and lab or library hours. The only higher priced staff hired were people either generating money or managing broad student programs.

It’s pretty easy to sling arrows. Not as easy to see what campuses do and where they set limits.

@lookingforward- I don’t think the problem is with campus staff, groundskeepers, bus drivers, security guards, etc. They are not expensive and are usually hourly employees. The problem is Administrators.

Maybe adding some clubs, organizations, and adding some new majors/programs would help? Cutting out a sports team or a program has its obvious pros and cons.

Admins are staff.

@lookingforward I bet we work at the same place. I was fortunate to be employed. Campus-wide reduction of budget and even cut backs on office supplies. I had forgotten about the heat setting though.

Groundskeeping cuts, hiring freeze, fewer/bigger classes, using adjuncts for everything (even non-faculty positions like administration “non-teaching adjuncts”)

The biggest hit seems to be in library acquisitions. The monetary amount may not be huge, but it is a hidden cut.