Rising Administrative Costs Endanger College Instructional Resources
University Association Applauds Governor's Call to Halt Excessive Growth in Administrative Expenditures
As students return to college this fall, Hoosier parents and taxpayers are probably wondering where all of the money given to Indiana's colleges and universities actually goes. They may be disappointed to discover that administration is consuming a large and rapidly growing portion of university resources. Resources devoted to instruction, research, and service -- the primary functions of institutions of higher learning -- are growing much more slowly.
A number of studies show that statewide and nationally the increase in expenses associated with administration, office space, and other non-instructional costs has greatly outpaced the increase in expenses associated with instruction. For example, data from the National Center for Education Statistics provides some disturbing facts. Information collected from the country's 198 leading public and private universities revealed that in 2007 nearly 39 percent of all full-time university employees were engaged in administration, an increase of 39 percent from the number of administrators per 100 students in 1993. Only 29 percent of full-time employees were engaged in instruction, research, and service, an increase of 18 percent since 1993.
Recently Governor Mitch Daniels called for Indiana's public universities to halt the excessive growth of administrative expenditures. The Indiana Conference of the American Association of University Professors applauds the Governor's leadership on this important issue.
In these times of tight budgets, scarce tax dollars, and the need to enhance student achievement it is imperative that university administrators target administrative bloat for reductions and limit any cutbacks associated with teaching and learning.
The AAUP pledges its support to the Governor and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education in attempts to rein in unnecessary costs in higher education while maintaining necessary levels of state appropriations for higher education.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is a national organization of 45,000 members that supports academic freedom and shared governance. College presidents and administrators rely on AAUP-developed policy statements and procedural guidelines. The AAUP helps shape American higher education and ensures higher education's contribution to the common good. The Indiana Conference of the AAUP represents faculty at IU-Bloomington, IUPUI, Ball State University, Indiana State University, Vincennes University, IU-North, IU-South Bend, University of Indianapolis, Manchester College, and Hanover College.