THE FISCAL WATCHDOG
USM Administrators’ Salary Increases = More Tuition for Students

      

                                                                                                

NEWS ANALYSIS

By BRYAN SHUY AND FRANCISCO GONZALEZ

The Terrapin Times Editor-In-Chief and News Editor                                                                                                       

             The University System of Maryland, which handed down tuition increases of 21% to College Park students over the past year and has already approved an 11% tuition increase for next year (with potentially more increases on the way), is under investigation by the student body and is now being forced to answer the questions of state legislators. The Terrapin Times conducted research showing that USM administrators have increased their own salaries at unprecedented rates.  The Terrapin Times reporters were on hand at the November 20th Tuition Task Force forum to present the numbers (below) to state legislators. University administrators did not appear to be pleased. However, the Fiscal Watchdog wants to point out that during the same time that University administrators’ salaries have increased (during a not so good economy too) – students have also experienced increases – except ours has been in tuition dollars.

Non-Academic Expenditures

University System of Maryland

 

  • The top 81 employees in the USM make a combined $14 million in salary (excluding various car, housing and pension allowances), making their average salary $171,779.
  • $14 million is equivalent to 2,000 full-time tuitions at College Park
  • 70 of these 81 administrators make more then $100,000 per year
  • 19 of these administrators make more then $200,000 per year
  • 6 of these administrators make more then $300,000 per year

 

Selected Salary Increases

Position

2003 Salary

Increase Since 1998

President, College Park

$358,000

64%

President, Towson

$278,000

83%

President, UMB

$351,000

81%

President, UMBC

$331,000

82%

President, University College

$326,000

126%

Chancellor, UMS

$375,000

44%

Vice President, Academic Affairs

$204,000

32%

Vice President, UMS; Administration

$218,000

41%

 

  • Since 1995, state aid to the University System has increased by $326,000,000…

AND tuition has been increased every year since 1995

 

State Aid, State Aid Increases and Tuition Increases vs. Inflation

Fiscal Year

College Park

All USM

% Tuition increase

Inflation

1995

$237 m (+5.5%)

$552 m (+6%)

9.5%

3%

1996

$241 m (+1.4%)

$563 m (+2%)

9%

2.5%

1997

$244 m (+1.4%)

$580 m (+3%)

9.9%

2.6%

1998

$252 m (+3.2%)

$603 m (+3.8%)

7%

2.4%

1999

$273 m (+8.5%)

$652 m (+8.2%)

5.3%

2.1%

2000

$302 m (+10.5%)

$720 m (+10.5%)

5.1%

4.2%

2001

$333 m (+10.3%)

$789 m (+11%)

4%

4.1%

2002

$365 m (+9.5%)

$877 m (+10%)

4%

1.1%

7 year growth

$127 m (+54%)

$326 m (+59%)

53.5%

22%

Non-Academic Expenditures

University System of Maryland

     Ř    Nearly a dozen employees receive a combined $295,000 in car and             

     house allowances. That money alone could have paid tuition for 43 students at   

     College Park this year.

 

Ř    Four employees receive both a house and a car as part of their employment, yet each of these employees makes at least $190,000 annually.

 

Tuition Increases

 

Ř    According to the USM, they increased tuition for students by $75 million in FY 2004.

Ř    Despite a $344 million in funding increase over the last ten years for USM system, tuition hikes have been imposed on some if not all USM students every year since 1995.

 

Ř    As early as January 25, 2002 – one year before Governor Ehrlich took office – USM Regents broke a five-year pledge to limit tuition increases by imposing a 5.5 percent increase on in-state and out-of-state tuition.

 

After all, it’s your money.

                                         

In times of budget crunches for the State and the University, this column serves to point out what students and other members of the campus community consider wasteful spending as well as what we can do, on an individual level to cut down on spending costs for our University, to ensure that each dollar spent is used wisely. If there is some important matter that you would like the Fiscal Watchdog to call attention to, please let us know at: Editor@theterrapintimes.com