With recent research from the Institute for Higher Education Policy showing that college is unaffordable for as many as 70% of working- and middle-class students, concerns about college costs are mounting. The cost of operating an institution of higher education, with very few exceptions, is reflected in the price of attendance that students, their families, and taxpayers face. While Americans make untold personal and financial sacrifices in order to access the value of a college credential, administrative expenses and overhead continue to rise on campuses. This new guide from ACTA’s Institute for Effective Governance takes a deeper look at the way that administrative costs are reported and the challenge that trustees face in balancing the cost of administration with their core mission—teaching and learning. The guide provides trustees with at-a-glance, national benchmarks for median levels of administrative spending, while issuing an action plan for trustees who are ready to take on the challenge of controlling costs and achieving greater financial efficiency and transparency.
Trustees face complex choices related to costs and efficiency as they navigate new accountability policies, financial headwinds, and a changing global marketplace for college education. The latest release in a series of trustee guides from ACTA’s Institute for Effective Governance, Bold Leadership, Real Reform 2.0: Improving Efficiency, Cutting Costs, and Expanding Opportunity identifies innovative approaches college […]
Drawing on the experiences of universities across the country, Bold Leadership, Real Reform: Best Practices in University Governance details what works in higher education. Through an analysis of 12 best practices, aimed at reducing the cost of a degree while increasing the quality of student learning, the success stories related here provide a useful model […]
Governance for a New Era, a blueprint for higher education governance, is the product of a summit facilitated by ACTA and chaired by Benno Schmidt, past president of Yale University and former board chairman of the City University of New York. Signatories to the statement, a diverse group of 22 distinguished national leaders, include college […]
Some small private colleges are spending almost twice as much on administration as on academics, according to a study by an association of university trustees. The study, based on financial data provided by colleges and universities themselves to the federal government, found that 64 cents was spent on administration at the smallest private colleges for every […]
Administrative costs are a popular target for groups concerned about the rising price of college. A new report puts that spending in context and finds that large, public research universities are the most efficient compared with smaller and private institutions. The study, released Tuesday by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, also suggests ways for […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – We know that college costs are increasing, but what’s harder to find out is where the money is going. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni on Wednesday launched a site that makes it easy to track how your hard-earned tuition dollars are spent: HowCollegesSpendMoney.com. It’s geared toward college trustees, lawmakers and policy wonks, […]
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