Wayne State and their never ending tuition increases

[belleislerunner]

So it looks like the BOG from WSU will vote tomorrow to adopt a sizable tuition increase yet again. My guess it will be just shy of double digits [[e.g. 9.6%) http://www.freep.com/article/2013062...ition-increase

The trend in unsustainable spending between WSU and Detroit is bothersome. Leadership at WSU, based off the article, has adopted the same mentality as Detroit [[let's blame Lansing for all our issues) instead of fixing the structural and legacy issues. Who cares that your 10 year graduation rate isn't even 50% when you're being evaluated on a 6 year rate. So the reality is that the state gives you less money - deal with it - instead of whining about how you can't make cuts.

I think many colleges [[including WSU) feel entitled to raise prices every year thinking there is no breaking point. Presidents come in making 500K/year for 2-5 years and have no incentive to not "rock the boat" so the school glories in a new research building while spending itself into bankruptcy. The problem is WSU customers [[students) aren't like other Michigan college customers. Univ of Michigan's incoming class was 43% out of state students. They're coming from money and will pay full price. Michigan State appeals to students from accross the state. WSU attracts 75+% of students from SE Michigan. Many are first generation college kids strugging to get a degree. That unending demand of resources on a financially strained student is not limitless. Soon there won't be a justifable cost benefit anlysis of a high school senior choosing a D2 school in Midtown over a D1 school in Auburn Hills.

Sure there are centers of excellence [[medicine, law, engineering) that bring in research dollars to WSU - but it's really time to take the axe to departments/faculty in the remaining departments. Why do we even need foreign language departments at WSU? What marketable skill is learning Spanish, specifically at WSU, going to provide that Macomb or WCCC couldn't provide better? Or art history, or gender studies, or English, or liberal arts. Or half of their degrees.

I think one of the best near term outcomes is students revolt over the hikes in the near term with their feet and transfer to OU while the incoming freshman class decreases substantially. Enrollment could fall from 30K to a 22-25K range. That would force structural/legacy issues to be addressed immediately. Why is any new hire entitled to a pension in 2013? Enrollment could trick back up once it becomes managable - but aside from the location - it's getting harder and harder to justify the cost of a WSU undergraduate degree.

Coming from a guy who got one.