State funding reduced, officials get innovative
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While the new budget cuts at the state level present new and difficult challenges for both Oakland University administrators and student leadership, both sides continue their commitment to achieve the best possible outcome for students.
OU raised tuition by seven percent for the 2011 school year, amounting to $8.4 million in additional funding for the university, to recoup gaps left by cuts to funding for higher education at the state level.
For fiscal year 2012, the state will only end up covering 19 percent of Oakland’s operating budget leaving over 80 percent to be made up through student tuition. By comparison, the average state funding nationally as of February 2011 was around 65 percent, according to a study by State Higher Education Executive Offices, an organization with members representing over 57 state higher education finance boards and committees.
With 15 percent axed from the higher education appropriations in the new budget passed by Gov. Snyder and the state legislature, universities statewide have begun to feel the pinch, and Oakland is no exception.
More reductions, more responsibility
With a $43 million state allocation, a $7.6 million reduction from last year, Oakland currently only receives about $2719 per student from the state of Michigan. This is just over 35 percent below the state average of $4170 per student and puts Oakland at third lowest in the state in terms of appropriations.
Working in this environment, Director of Media Relations Ted Montgomery said that it was important for Oakland to maintain fiscal responsibility. He cited $45 million in reduced budget and cost containment measures over the last decade, including eliminating positions, renegotiating contracts, and pushing back maintenance projects.
Of the state’s 15 public universities, Oakland’s tuition is sixth lowest. OU charges $2470 under the state average per student. He also pointed out several ways in which Oakland distinguishes itself from other schools.
“OU has no fees; no application fee, no registration fee, no parking fee, no course fee, no lab fee, no transcript fee, no graduation fee,” he said.
The school’s budget hit has been somewhat lessened by the fact that enrollment has increased and there are more students to pay tuition.
The effect on students
Student programs are feeling the pressure of the budget problems as well. Student Congress president Benjamin Eveslage said it’s definitely a different feeling than in years past.
“Numerous OUSC planned events and programs are competing for a leaner portion of the budget,” he said.
A sophomore majoring in international studies, Eveslage mentioned that he understood that the university’s main objective was to not have to sacrifice educational quality.
“They were able to cut their costs and re-organize it so that they maintained the academic quality without
spending money on unnecessary items,” he said.
One of the factors Eveslage mentioned that helped mitigate the losses was an approved increase in the student activities fee of $2.50 which goes toward student organizations.
Student Congress, in partnership with the administration, is contributing $10,000 of its allotted funds in order to make the library available to students 24 hours a day, five days a week as part of a pilot program. He felt that the timing of this cannot be more important with the opening of the medical school this fall, which required a 24 hour
on-campus study facility to receive accreditation.
Eveslage feels that such a facility should not only be available, but also needs to have certain conveniences in order to succeed.
“They won’t go there unless they have coffee,” Eveslage said. ”They won’t go there unless they have food. If you have to leave, you’ll just go to Starbucks.”
To that end, Eveslage said Student Congress is putting together data to help convince Chartwells, which has the contract to provide the school’s catering needs to keeep facilities open on a 24-hour basis.
Plans for future budgets
In addition to the school library project, one of the broader goals of OUSC is to work with the administration in
securing further funding for Oakland University’s future.
“(The students)need more advocacy in Lansing for higher education funding,” Eveslage said, adding that with the Human Health building and engineering school construction, he felt a strong case could be made to lawmakers that Oakland was making a considerable push in the areas of research and development.
OUSC is also trying to conserve funds wherever possible. In particular, they are putting meeting materials online, something he estimates saves them about 300 pages per session.
They have also tried to partner with area businesses to sponsor events that would normally come out of the OUSC budget.
Although students face higher tuition rates, each department on campus is striving to ensure the evolution and development of the university.
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