Comments on: SPECIAL REPORT ON COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY: How other states outpace Michigan

By: Mark R

Mark R — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:37:22 +0000

George, you’re comparing apples and oranges.
Hillsdale charges more than $18,000 tuition; Grand Valley charges about $7,000. The state appropriation for this year isn’t set, but the bill calls for GVSU to get $62,018,400 from the state. Divide that by Grand Valley’s student population of 18,903, and it comes to a state subsidy of $3,280 per student. That means revenue of just over $10,000 per student, vs. the highly touted, we-take-no-subsidies private school of $18,000. That tells me why Hillsdale could afford to take a breather on tuition increases. It’s also worth noting GVSU’s endowment is just $46 million, while Hillsdale’s is $216 million. Hillsdale, to its credit, has a cushion it’s built up over the past 165 years, and that can be spread over an enrollment that’s only 7 percent of the size of the enrollment at Grand Valley.

By: Robert Lafean

Robert Lafean — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:28:54 +0000

Higher education is a key part of the economic engine and will play an even greater role in the future. But, getting the most out of a dollar must force the state universities to reevaluate what they are paying for.

As this article pointed out one example of increasing classroom time of professors. While professors at Universities should be involved in research and publication of that – it should not be their only job. They should be in the classroom instead of teaching assistants.

The ability to transfer credits is huge. Transferring credits between State Universities is a significant step. If the the school is accredited – regardless of what state their location – the credits should be accepted.
Instead many institutions require courses to be taken over either to drive revenue or “we have a higher standard” whatever that means.

On another note – we have seen in a number of regions around the state (and country – both in the U. S. and Canada) a dramatic decrease in scholarship and grant applications by students. There is significant dollars available to students and these monies are being left on the table each year.

By: George Ranville

George Ranville — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:49:40 +0000

Regarding tuition increases, it seems that the ivory tower is even more insulated then ever. The faculty at GVSU was given a pay increase, as were faculties at other state universities, during the worst recession and unemployment environment in Michigan in recent memory. Meanwhile tuition is up.

If the university faculty and their boards think they have to have a pay increase, it is a clear example of greedy government employees running roughshod over the rest of the citizens of the state. There is no other way to describe it. They should be receiving a pay decrease, not an increase.

They do not feel the pain of my employee with a kid in college -trying to make ends meet while our business is way down.

I noticed Hillsdale College did not increase tuition this year. What can we learn from that?

George Ranville
Grand Rapids, Michigan