Soon every faculty member will have a personal senior manager: Is this a good way to spend money?

by Richard Evans

(A PDF version of this article is available.)

In a letter to the UC Davis community, Chancellor Katehi and Provost Lavernia declared that we should work collectively “to address today’s major budget cuts, which come as a consequence of the state’s decade-long disinvestment in higher education.” I think there is a more immediate target for constructive change that would balance the UC budget.

It’s true that UC’s share of the state’s general fund has been declining (from 7.5 percent in 1967-68 to as low as 3 percent in recent years, according to the California Postsecondary Education Commission[1]), but that has been a steady trend. The more immediate reason for the current enormous increases in student fees, and for the sudden need for employee furloughs, is the startling recent growth of UC’s senior management. Data available from the UC Office of the President shows that there were 2.5 faculty members for each senior manager in the UC system in 1993. Now there are as many senior managers as faculty.[2] Just think: Each professor could have his or her personal senior manager.

faculty_management_fte

In the decade beginning in 1997, while faculty increased by 24 percent and student enrollment increased 39 percent, senior management grew by 118 percent. This past year, with the budget crisis in full swing, senior management has grown at twice the rate of faculty. That comes at a high price, because many managers are very well compensated for their work. A report on administrative growth by the UCLA Faculty Association[3] estimated that UC would have $800 million more each year if senior management had grown at the same rate as the rest of the university since 1997, instead of four times faster.

What could we do with $800 million? That is the total amount of the state funding cuts for 2008-09 and 2009-10, and four times the savings of the employee furloughs.[4] Consider this: UC revenue from student fees has tripled in the last eight years. The ratio of state general fund revenue to student fee revenue in 1997 was 3.6:1. Last year it was 1.9:1. If we used that $800 million to reduce student fees, the ratio would go back to the 1997 value.[5] To put another way, it could pay the educational fees for 100,000 resident undergraduates.

Of course the budget crisis is more complex than this. Of course we must try to convince the state government and the public of the wisdom of investment in our university system. But changing attitudes about public investment is a large task that involves far more than just UC. I’m not sure that those who are reluctant to increase UC support will be swayed by arguments presented by a UC president whose 2008 compensation was $828,000. Or by a new UC Davis chancellor whose salary (27 percent greater than that of her predecessor) equals that of the US president.

Our effort to solve the budget problems has a greater chance for success if we first aim at something we have direct control over. UC has shared governance (in theory), and does its own hiring. I suggest that we — administrators, faculty, staff and students — review the justification, costs, and benefits related to the explosive growth in senior management. If we could reduce management costs by $800 million, we could eliminate much of the financial hardship on students and staff. We could argue convincingly to the governor and state legislature that a well-run UC deserves full support. Perhaps most impressive, we could present a model for turning back a nationwide trend in university hiring.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Source: http://www.cpec.ca.gov/completereports/2008reports/FiscalProfiles2008.asp

[2] Source: http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/uwnews/stat/

[3] Source: http://www.uclafaculty.org/FASite/Admin._Growth.html

[4] Source: http://www.dateline.ucdavis.edu/dl_detail.lasso?id=11822

[5] Source: http://www.cpec.ca.gov/FiscalData/FundingOptions.asp

2,231 Responses to “Soon every faculty member will have a personal senior manager: Is this a good way to spend money?”

  1. casino 3 euro einzahlung neosurf

    Here is my webpage: Live Baccarat Um Geld Spielen

  2. sportwetten anbieter ausland

    Feel free to visit my page: live wetten Basketball

  3. стейк 5 says:

    сравнение на букмейкъри

    Here is my blog стейк 5

  4. Kandi says:

    automatenspiele sicheres casino ohne mindesteinzahlung (Kandi)
    bonus

  5. roulette automat taktiken

    my blog post – neue aviator spiel

  6. Foster says:

    online casino unter 30 euro einzahlung, Foster, handy
    paypal

  7. online casino ohne registrierung mit auszahlung paysafecard

    Here is my page – neue gesetze für spielhallen

  8. Terence says:

    demo ruleta apuestas casino online españa – Terence,

  9. matematica nel gioco d’azzardo

    my web site: come di gioca a blackjack – agppdubai.com –

  10. come si gioca spades

    Check out my web page … consigli slot online

  11. Mona says:

    conto delle carte blackjack

    my blog post :: calcolatrice scommesse roulette
    (Mona)

  12. Georgepat says:

    News129.online is a developing news and information website created to provide readers with fresh information useful articles and interesting stories. The website provides access to materials focused on relevant topics noteworthy events practical information and subjects of general interest. The publication is intended for readers who appreciate informative content varied topics and convenient access to fresh materials. The website can be visited at https://news129.online. News129.online strives to provide a simple and convenient experience for discovering interesting content as new articles and useful materials are published over time.

  13. Gayle says:

    são apostas online grátis

    My blog post :: como apostar no esportes da sorte – Gayle –

  14. Shawn says:

    tips apostas atleta aposta online (Shawn)

  15. Samual says:

    usa casino in newcastle kzn (Samual) games, can you play poker online united kingdom and online gambling australia
    legislation, or new usa live casino

  16. no deposit bonus codes usa, casino online uk paypal and casino online australia free, or online
    poker licence australia

    my website Bankroll Calculator Blackjack

  17. Torri says:

    apostar em atleta virtual

    Review my blog; apostas de valor esportivas para hoje (Torri)

  18. sportwetten heute

    Feel free to surf to my blog; Basketball Wm Wetten (Dev.Koehn-Design.De)

  19. Quinn says:

    888 poker deposit united kingdom, united kingdom casino documentary online and pokie
    machines in united states, or casinos how to play the field in craps, Quinn, alberta
    australia

  20. united kingdom casino no deposit bonus 2021, best online casino apps uk and free online casinos in united kingdom, or online aussie casino no deposit bonus codes 2022 canada free bonus

  21. Merle says:

    daily betting tips 1×2; Merle, shop near me now

  22. wett vorhersagen heute

    Feel free to surf to my homepage; Euroleague Basketball Wetten

  23. Lashawnda says:

    bookie for sports chelsea betting tips (Lashawnda)

  24. Lino says:

    celtic rangers betting odds (Lino) rangers betting tips

  25. aposta esporte

    My homepage … apostas seguras (vidaesol.com.br)

  26. Shana says:

    casinò lugano online

    Look into my website – slot senza soldi (Shana)

Leave a Reply