Fayetteville : More state funding critical, UA chancellor says
Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006
FAYETTEVILLE — Getting the state Legislature to provide money for growth at the state’s public colleges and universities is critical for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s continued success, Chancellor John A. White said during his annual State of the University address Friday.
“According to the Department of Higher Education’s funding formula, this campus is underfunded by more than $ 36 million annually,” White said.
The formula was approved but not funded during the last legislative session.
If legislators approve more money during the forthcoming session, UA would be able to address key priorities including increasing need-based scholarships, increasing faculty and staff salaries, hiring new faculty to keep pace with the university’s growth, expanding academic research and outreach, and covering rising operational costs on the Fayetteville campus, he said.
“I am optimistic that the formula will be fully funded,” said Richard Hudson, vice chancellor for government and community relations.
“One of the keys will be what Gov.-elect Mike Beebe recommends.”
Despite significant gains in the nine years since he came to UA in 1997, White said the university still has room for improvement. Increasing the members of minority groups on the state’s flagship campus remains a top priority, he said.
Of the 17, 926 enrolled at UA this fall, 2, 167 are members of minority groups. The goal is to increase that number to 4, 000 by 2010.
“We’re far behind where we need to be,” White said. “Most troubling is that we’ve been losing ground in enrolling African-Americans.”
The university launched a $ 300, 000 advertising campaign this summer aimed at attracting more blacks and Hispanics to UA. Advantage Communications, Inc. of Little Rock designed television, radio and print advertisements for the campaign, which also includes social events and workshops for college-bound students in grades nine through 12.
White said the university is battling an old and erroneous perception that minority group members are not welcome on the Fayetteville campus.
“I think we still have a hard time getting our message across,” White said. “It continues to be a challenge.”
Increasing the number of need-based scholarships is another high priority, White said.
G. David Gearhart, vice chancellor for university advancement, said the university plans to launch a five-year, $ 30 million fundraising campaign to raise money for need-based scholarships to start in the spring.
White gained approval from the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees to designate $ 600, 000 from the educational and general budget for need-based and leadership scholarships.
“The harsh reality is that many students, qualified to attend and graduate from the University of Arkansas, cannot afford to do so,” White said.
Fifty-one percent of the 2005 graduating class left UA with student debt, at an average amount of $ 19, 862, he said. White also wants to increase faculty salaries, which are below averages at other Southeastern Conference universities.
There is also a strong need to improve UA’s six-year retention rate, which is at 56 percent compared to about 65 percent at other U. S. universities, he said.
In a new initiative, White said he wants UA to be a “showcase of sustainablity.”
UA produces 3, 000 tons of waste every year and pays $ 5. 8 million per year for 114 million kilowatt hours of electricity.
Several efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce waste are already under way on the campus, he said. UA has made other significant strides over the past nine years, including completion of 29 new or renovated building projects on campus and six new projects now under way, White said. Enrollment has grown from 14, 740 to 17, 926, and the average ACT score of incoming freshmen has increased from 23. 5 to 25. 5. UA’s endowment has grown from $ 119 million to $ 763 million and research expenditures have increased from $ 73. 7 million to $ 109. 6 million. “Great challenges continue to face us,” White said. “But I am confident we will deal with them effectively.”
To contact this reporter: cpark@arkansasonline. com
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
