Comments on: UC System Flunks Test with Increases

By: Bill M

Bill M — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:08:05 +0000

This story sound eerily familiar to those we heard late last year about AIG and others of that ilk, “too big to fail.” The arrogance that has been displayed by the UC system for all too many years because they are involved in education has caused this so-called “crisis.” I can’t think of no example more glaring than when Michelle Obama came to speak at UC Merced at this year’s commencement. UC Merced budgeted $100,000 for the ceremony, but whoops!, the final price tag ended up to be $1.04 Million! Let’s consider just a few questions? Who budgeted and approved that amount and was off by a factor of ten? If they are that incompetent (or lied) why do they still have a job? How often in the multitude of budget items across the many campuses in the UC systems are “mistakes” such as this go unpunished? Or is it encouraged?

To rescue this broken system, significant changes are needed, or it should be cut off as a California entity and allowed to spin-off as a private entity.

By: Æ

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:04:22 +0000

There are more factors here than just the UC top dogs trying to hold on to their lifestyles. Why have the costs risen so high, so quickly?
Have tax subsidies made it more difficult to compete with the UC and CSU systems? Ever notice that there are not many private, middle-of-the-road universities in CA? Why has the market not provided?
An admittedly simple example:
2 schools: 1 private, one public
Both have equal numbers of students and operating costs.
the public school gets 1/2 of its costs paid by tax money
The other must charge more tuition, making it less attractive (or more elite).

The high barrier to entry prohibits new competitors, with the exception of targeted schools: Drexel’s extension, Ashford, Phoenix, and online schools. With a more equal playing field, more schools could open to accommodate the demand. Competition would drive prices down.

By: Paul Smith

Paul Smith — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:37:08 +0000

Students at UC Davis were arrested yesterday for protesting. Although I am not a proponent of civil disobedience, I am not sure there are many options left for you and me at this stage and I understand why they did it. Until the UC systems cuts out all the fat, cuts salaries like all of the rest of us have experienced, I will be backing the students. When education becomes cost prohibited except for just the elite, this country has turned into everyones worst nightmare!

What in the hell has happened to our country and our way of life?