Universities are getting greedy with grads

By Brian D. Rossman

Recently, I received a call from my graduate school asking for a contribution to their fall 2000 funding drive. "Hello, Mr. Rossman, we are asking all alumni to support the fall 2000 funding campaign."

"Hi, did you know that you have called me at my home during dinnertime."

"Yes, Mr. Rossman, I apologize, but we need your support to do great things for the campus."

"Pray tell, to what great things are you referring?"

"We are attempting to increase the enrollment by 25 percent and expand our graduate programs by two disciplines."

"Great things, indeed. Why do you need alumni money for that?"

"Well, to defray the costs."

"Isn't that what the $25,000 tuition per student covers?"

"Well, tuition has not kept up with the costs to educate."

"When I first attended the university in 1990, the tuition was $12,000 per year. It increased to $15,000 by my third year. Now, it has more than doubled. How can you state that 'tuition has not kept up with the costs to educate?'"

"Well, you know, with the real estate boom, property costs have escalated throughout the valley. We need to keep pace."

"The university has been around and owned prime valley real estate since the 1800s. They are not purchasing new property to build classrooms. They are using existing university-owned space."

"Yes, but."

"Yes, but, you are calling out of habit, expectation, and to increase the endowment because you can."

"Well, can we count on your support?"

"Yes, when you lower your tuition to the same amount as the state-run universities."

Whatever pride and loyalty I had left over from graduation had dissipated because of their strong-arm solicitation tactics.

As most people, I choose my charitable contributions carefully. I must believe in the cause; I must believe that the organization is credible; and I must believe that they will not squander my donation on red tape. My alma mater failed to meet these criteria.

Mine is not an isolated story. Most alumni duck donation calls and immediately throw away mailing circulars. The constant solicitation by the fundraising committee would make a loan shark proud. Universities seduce incoming students, placate their attendees and then disregard their graduates. Yet, the money keeps pouring in.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, donations grew from $3.2 billion in the academic year 1980-81 to $7.8 billion in 1989-90. This represents an increase of 66 percent in real dollars. According to a recent report, education ranks among the top three purposes of personal savings, along with housing and retirement.

But even as donations increase, dissatisfaction with post-secondary education is keeping pace. According to a 1998 Tulane University report, a 1966 survey found 61 percent of respondents had a great deal of confidence in colleges and universities. In 1995, the figure dropped to 27 percent.

Donations increase while satisfaction decreases. Why do these figures appear to be in conflict? Is it because we have an unrealistic and romantic view of our college life? Do we believe that since the school was good enough for us to attend, it is good enough for us to keep giving without question?

Before we make a donation, shouldn't we ask ourselves what goals the school is trying to achieve? Isn't this similar to the questions that the public is just beginning to ask with respect to the campaign for president? Before we blindly follow our favorite political party shouldn't we question our party affiliation? Is the Democratic or Republican plank still consistent with our value system? This inquiry is quite healthy to the democratic system on which our society rests. Shouldn't we expect the same for the donations we make to our school systems?

At some point, people will stop automatically giving to universities just because they received their degree there. Graduates will begin to seek accountability and responsiveness from their alma mater. The blank check donations will end. I would like to hear their solicitation then. You can bet it will not be an intrusive call during dinner.

Campbell's Community Center skate park sports new ramps

Brian Rossman: Universities are getting greedy with grads

Police Blotter

Sports Briefs

Rohloff, Blanco run to Dammit wins

Photo: Baseball camp