For those college students out there wondering why their tuition continues to increase with each passing semester, there are several factors. Colleges see the increased demand in the job market for college degrees and raise prices accordingly. Also, since the federal government has increasingly incentivized college education in recent years by offering and backing cheap student loans (sounds suspiciously like what happened in the housing market collapse, doesn't it?), colleges raise their prices accordingly because they know students aren't footing the entire bill. But perhaps the most alarming reason for higher tuition these days is found in the large increase in administrative employees and their, let's just say generous, benefits packages.
Here in Arizona, some startling facts were uncovered by the Arizona Republic this week regarding compensation and perks for top administrators in the Maricopa Community College District. In addition to massive salaries, these officials receive car expense accounts (sometimes worth the purchase of a new car every year), personal spending accounts larger than some faculty salaries, and perhaps most alarming of all, "wellness" accounts worth several thousand dollars for purchasing massages at swanky resorts. Not a bad gig, eh?
While these officials constantly claim to care about students' needs and helping a new generation of young people obtain valuable educations, we see they have higher motives for holding their respective positions. Who wouldn't pursue a job where you can get other people to pay for your massages? Meanwhile, students' tuition has increased three times the rate of inflation in recent years.
What is also shocking about this system is that administrators never have to produce receipts for purchases on their various expense accounts. Therefore, they never have to answer for their egregious spending--not to students, nor to taxpayers in Arizona. Their buckets of money just fall upon them as if manna from heaven, oblivious (or apathetic) that those funds came out of the pockets of hardworking Arizona citizens and students trying to earn a degree.
While I have been aware of this scheme for some time, hopefully the public reporting in the local newspaper will prompt some change in the system. But just because this example comes from Arizona, don't think it isn't happening elsewhere also. Look into how your state's public education officials are compensated and ask for accountability. After all, you are paying for it. And massages aren't cheap.
Here in Arizona, some startling facts were uncovered by the Arizona Republic this week regarding compensation and perks for top administrators in the Maricopa Community College District. In addition to massive salaries, these officials receive car expense accounts (sometimes worth the purchase of a new car every year), personal spending accounts larger than some faculty salaries, and perhaps most alarming of all, "wellness" accounts worth several thousand dollars for purchasing massages at swanky resorts. Not a bad gig, eh?
While these officials constantly claim to care about students' needs and helping a new generation of young people obtain valuable educations, we see they have higher motives for holding their respective positions. Who wouldn't pursue a job where you can get other people to pay for your massages? Meanwhile, students' tuition has increased three times the rate of inflation in recent years.
What is also shocking about this system is that administrators never have to produce receipts for purchases on their various expense accounts. Therefore, they never have to answer for their egregious spending--not to students, nor to taxpayers in Arizona. Their buckets of money just fall upon them as if manna from heaven, oblivious (or apathetic) that those funds came out of the pockets of hardworking Arizona citizens and students trying to earn a degree.
While I have been aware of this scheme for some time, hopefully the public reporting in the local newspaper will prompt some change in the system. But just because this example comes from Arizona, don't think it isn't happening elsewhere also. Look into how your state's public education officials are compensated and ask for accountability. After all, you are paying for it. And massages aren't cheap.