Post by yeswecan on May 18, 2015 21:30:13 GMT -5
Today Harvie linked to a Chronicle of Higher Ed piece on the Am. Association of University Professors' report on faculty layoffs at the U of Southern Maine. Southern Maine's leadership (sic) eliminated 60 faculty positions by cutting programs like Geosciences, and French (!), alleging a $16 million deficit for the new fiscal year.
Here's the link: chronicle.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/article/AAUP-Blasts-U-of-Southern/230105/ which includes links to the AAUP reports.
On page 10 of the AAUP report on Southern Maine: www.aaup.org/file/USM%20report.pdf
the authors note that the institution was not in financial crisis, because:
"• the University of Maine system is in strong financial
condition; the system has strong reserves,
manageable debt, and strong operating surpluses
and cash flows. Bond-rating agencies cite all of
these issues as justification for the system’s strong
bond rating;
• USM had revenues exceeding expenses in both
2013 and 2014".
There is a nice chart that shows steady growth in reserves.
The report details the fuzzy math that goes into concocting a deficit where there is none. Grant revenues were ignored, fixed personnel costs were altered, etc.
Back to Planet Harvard...
benefits costs are something that financial administrators should keep an eye on,
and at the same time, proven loyalty of administrative staff should not be abused. The huge amount of spin that was present in the initial announcement of the changes to the health benefits makes me doubt the legitimacy of any position taken by the University Benefits Committee. This Committee seems to be happy to act as the de facto puppet of a Harvard Corporation hell-bent on establishing mediocre benefits as a new normal.
Here's the link: chronicle.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/article/AAUP-Blasts-U-of-Southern/230105/ which includes links to the AAUP reports.
On page 10 of the AAUP report on Southern Maine: www.aaup.org/file/USM%20report.pdf
the authors note that the institution was not in financial crisis, because:
"• the University of Maine system is in strong financial
condition; the system has strong reserves,
manageable debt, and strong operating surpluses
and cash flows. Bond-rating agencies cite all of
these issues as justification for the system’s strong
bond rating;
• USM had revenues exceeding expenses in both
2013 and 2014".
There is a nice chart that shows steady growth in reserves.
The report details the fuzzy math that goes into concocting a deficit where there is none. Grant revenues were ignored, fixed personnel costs were altered, etc.
Back to Planet Harvard...
benefits costs are something that financial administrators should keep an eye on,
and at the same time, proven loyalty of administrative staff should not be abused. The huge amount of spin that was present in the initial announcement of the changes to the health benefits makes me doubt the legitimacy of any position taken by the University Benefits Committee. This Committee seems to be happy to act as the de facto puppet of a Harvard Corporation hell-bent on establishing mediocre benefits as a new normal.
