Many on the outside looking in think they know a lot more than they do.  While I'm sure Ohio University would prosper under your direction, Alan, forgive me not being quick to drink the Swank Kool-Aid.  There always seems to be a lot of bark and no proof of bite from that corner.

You were very quick to fire off at George when he was stating FACT!  If you remove the blinders, you will see that the struggle to attract talented candidates is a very obvious and public issue.  If you question that, please refer to the search for the Vice President of Finance and Administration.  While I love Athens, it is not exactly a budding metropolis and it is difficult to attract talented candidates, especially young talented candidates.

Now, I am not going to state my opinion as though it is the end all be all solution for the University's budget issues or act like I would be the greatest asset available to the university that is never used like you do.  However, I believe switching to the semester system is absolutely the right move.  Ohio University is one of a small number of universities in the country that use the quarter system.  I don't believe the semester system has become the preferred university education structure for no reason.  The move may hurt local businesses, but regrettably Ohio University has to put themselves first.

Athletics and Highly paid administrative positions have been the focus of much of the budget debate.  In my opinion, that is not where the biggest issues are.  I believe the biggest issues are with, GASP, Academic programs and structure.  The second someone mentions that, 10 other people jump up and scream about athletics.  Their strategy of deflecting attention and being more vocal has worked to this point.  However, it is time to put them under the microscope.  The dissolution of the College of Health and Human Services is just the beginning.  Ohio University has an enrollment of 18,589 and offers 250 undergraduate majors.  In contrast, The Ohio State University has an enrollment of 55,014 and 175 undergraduate majors.  With almost three times as many students they offer far fewer majors.

In my opinion, the best way for Ohio University to save money is to go through a major consolidation of academic programs.  Become more focused on providing fewer more outstanding academic programs and far less infatuated with the idea that 250 majors somehow enhances the academic experience and reputation of the university.  I know it is difficult to cut programs, but the athletic department already did their part.  Time for academics to bite the bullet.

We had to reduce the number of jobs to raise the salary of a few.  It was a long process of restructuring because we could not attract people with what we were offering.  It wasn't enough to have people to make a change or move here.  Many departments on campus are finding the same problem.  Not going to mention them on a public forum, but it is happening.  So bingo!

Alan - I'll try to split this in to two issues.

Attracting good people -- Failed searches for high level and critical positions are becoming the norm.  Even when quality search firms are involved.  And retaining high level and critical people is an issue.  That doesn't mean you just start throwing money at all of this.  Money doesn't fix everything.  But, we shouldn't be surprised to see some high salaries for the top execs if/when new ones are hired.  Its a tough environment to recruit and retain.

Running things more efficiently -- Well, OK.  Lay them on me.  I'm listening.  But unless all skills are transferable to all jobs then layoffs and efficiencies won't impact attraction and retention.  You can't move a widget maker into a key IT position or a specialzed librarian position or the CFO position or etc..  It will probably negatively impact attraction and retention.

I'll add a third.  My guess is there's things you (and me and others) think the univeristy shouldn't be doing at all. 

Sadly, the Ohio governor who first slashed higher education funding, setting the stage for continued erosion over the long term, was OU alum George Voinovich. 

Mike Johnson will argue that it is the result of a lack of private sector management and discipline.  However, I think that the real answer is that there has been an increase in demand for higher education as the public increasingly realizes that a college education is increasingly important for success in the 21st Century, combined with the fact that there has been an expansion and (perhaps) overabundance of private and public student loans over the last 10-15 years.  As a result, colleges and universities have been able to raise tuition without facing traditional market pressures, because students are willing to fund their demand for higher education with a nearly limitless supply of student loan debt.  A strong case can be made that we are in the midst of a student loan bubble.

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ffp0005s.pdf

The above is short (4 pages), and pretty much captures it.  Although their solutions underwhelmed me.

My favorite part:

"To look better than their competitors, the institutions wind up in an arms race of spending to improve facilities, faculty, students, research, and instructional technology. Meanwhile, students and their families increasingly want to buy the best..."

This is what Rich Vedder just doesn't get.  The kids and parents want the country club campuses that he rails against.

The economy is in shambles with high unemployment and Ohio University cannot find qualified candidates?  That's because your pool of prospects are all coming from the same pool--Academia, where there is no unemployment.  Broaden the pool.  Set up over in Iraq and Afghanistan and hire some Army Captain who has managed several thousand people and had to adapt to dealing with locals and pay him/her 80 Grand and he/she stays here 5 or 6 years gaining their Academia Experience and they cash in at some other school--then we go back and find another. There should be only a handful of administrators over 30 working at Ohio University; make it a feeder for other schools to pay the big dollars.  How old are the guys in University Parking; heck a 22 year old could have slapped the locks on the truck as easy as an old timer and at 30% the pay!

If our business department produces well educated people hire a 22 year old and let him sink or swim, most of the programs have already been put in place so we're just talking about following the manual.  

Instead of the cheerleaders being kept home the brass should have said, "The buck stops here," so no jetting to Marshall or Eastern Michigan as the penalty for those in their employ for screwing up.  

For what it's worth, I throw this article into the mix:

http://www.more.com/2050/22280-is-college-worth-the-cash/...

So the university's mission is to be a vocational school?

Medler:  Yes.  Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology.  That's the focus in Ohio.  No interest in broad based learning and critical thinking outside of those 4 areas.

Wanamaker:  Careful there.  Some of the wealthiest people I know had "unemployable" undergraduate majors.  But, they didn't stop there.  They then went on to business school, law school, medical school and etc.  And, they credit their undergraduate learning experience big time.

Hmmmm.....Someone one else says we have 250 majors and we need to down size, and yet I get ripped because I make a blanket statement, that some of these majors that have no direct job field or training should be the ones to go.  Some of you need to open your minds a bit.   And what is wrong with change?  And Please point to where I said Ohio University should become a Vocational School????  I think I missed that, oh wait I never said it!

Here you go SBH, nothing on losing the money, but seeing how this was a one shot deal from the Feds, I would ass-u-me that these other institutions are losing these funds as well. 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/10/post_86.html


One thing that is still up in the air, what will happen with the State budget.