ASU's tuition is set to go up again next semester, what with more cuts to education funding. The ever-expanding cost of attending college is becoming pretty standard, as it seems the go-to solution for solving budget woes is to cut funding to colleges and other educational institutions.
It has become pretty standard, even for hardcore government-funding-for-education backers like myself.
But a study at the University of Texas may reveal some information that could change that.
According to the study, conducted by the Center for College Productivity and Affordability, 20 percent of teachers are teaching 57 percent of classes. This means the other 60 percent are teaching much less than a standard course load, taking paid sabbaticals, or doing research. The university still gets to claim a higher student-to-professor ration than is actually accurate, as 60 percent of professors have a much lower interaction with students. So these professors are not pulling their weight.
So what consequences does this have for students? Well, aside from providing a false picture of the class size and professor to student ratio, it is costing them money.
According to the study, if the bottom 80 percent of professors were as productive as the top 20 percent, it would cut tuition at UT in half. Alternatively, the state could reduce its funding to a quarter of the current amount.
This study proves that there are alternatives to raising tuition. College does not have to cost an arm and a leg.
Allowing the majority of professors to teach fewer students and fewer classes is directly affecting students and is limiting the availability of education. These professors are receiving the same amount of money from the university, but doing less of the work, and costing the students, proportionally, more money.
All across the country, tuition is rising and programs are being cut to save money. This economy is not conducive to a big education budget. I understand that, but instead of putting the burden on the backs of students, why not take a serious look at which teachers are pulling their weight and which ones are not.
Now, this study is based on preliminary data. Despite its early stages of research “the data reveal a profoundly sharp disparity in the teaching loads for individual faculty members.”
The numbers say it all. At the UT, there are approximately 4,200 faculty members. The top 20 percent of these faculty members, 840, teach 896 student credit hours. The remaining 3,360 faculty members teach on average 167 student credit hours. A profoundly sharp disparity.
So, perhaps it is time for ASU to take a look at their professors and what is actually happening inside this university. Perhaps we could save some money by requiring professors to teach a minimum number of courses, by decreasing salary if the minimum is not met.
Education is complicated, and funding it correctly can be a challenge, as we have all seen in the heated debates over what and where to cut funds. But maybe this time raising tuition, again, will be a last resort, and cutting some of the inefficiencies inherent in the system will be an option on the table.
Reach the columnist at oonagh.mcquarrie@asu.edu
