A Billion Dollar School?
The University of South Carolina has become the first billion-dollar school in state history, although it’s debatable whether or not the term “school” still applies in this case given USC’s addiction to meddling incompetently in the S.C. economy (on your dime).
More on that momentarily …
First, here’s a recap of the steadily increasing Spend-a-Palooza:
FY 2004-05 – $614.1 million
FY 2005-06 – $686.6 million
FY 2006-07 – $788.6 million
FY 2007-08 – $859.8 million
FY 2008-09 – $889.6 million
FY 2009-10 – $903.3 million
Wait, we can’t count so good … how does $903.3 million equal a billion, again?
Oh right! USC hiked its tuition rate by 3.6% last month and raised its “student activity fee” by $4, which is what pushed the school’s total budget to $1.08 billion.
Tuition at the University has been on an upward climb for years, more than doubling over the last six years. In fact, if you’re a rising senior at USC (or the parent of one), tuition has jumped by 17 percent since you (or your kid) enrolled three years ago.
So where is all of that money going?
Sadly, tens of millions of dollars continue to be poured into the failed Innovista project, which as you can see below is nothing but an empty shell of a campus …
USC claims it is doing parents a favor by not jacking tuition by 16.5%, which it says would have been necessary to replace $55.4 million in state cuts. Of course, despite these “state cuts,” USC’s total funding in the state budget went up by nearly $15 million.
Which means they’re raising tuition to keep paying for this crap.
Hmmm … no wonder the knives are out for USC President Harris Pastides.
Comments
By Harry on August 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 am
But Will, its for the children!
By Toyota Kawaski on August 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 am
education is expensive stupid is priceless just look at Fits
By Myles Keogh on August 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
Unfortunately I fear that President Pesticides is going no where soon. He has been given cover by the fuzzy fundraising Darla Moore announced last week and by that imbecile Lindsey Graham’s Federal Bailout of the university that was announced two weeks ago. I am sure the university’s geriatric board of trustees will approve all this since it covers their asses from the complete incompetence they have exhibited as “trustees” of the university over the past three decades.
By Law School Want to be on August 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
you would think they would finally offer a part time law program–or maybe that would cause too much competition.
By Myles Keogh on August 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
“By Law School Want to be on August 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
you would think they would finally offer a part time law program–or maybe that would cause too much competition.”
LOL!! The current president and the previous one have completely ignored the plans put in place by Palms to build a new law school in both facilities and reputation. Of course they ignore it because it means they have to get out there and raise money from the private sector rather then receiving expensive hands outs from the state. It also diverts attention and funds away from the Innovista boondoggle.
Poor Dean Pratt – he really is out there trying to raise money but he has received absolutely no support from Pesticides and previously Sorenson with even basic marketing materials. Pratt is the best thing to happen to the Law School in a long, long time. Unfortunately it will only be either a matter of time or opportunity before he realizes that Carolina is run by a bunch of morons.
By Myles Keogh on August 3rd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nychauta/MILITARY/Portraits/Keogh-miles.jpg
By K Trane on August 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Clemson’s tuition rates did the same thing while I was attending. When Sanford stepped in and stopped the inflation of tuition (finally!) Clemson started adding “Lab Fees” when you didn’t even have a lab. Thanks President Barker.
And why are all the graduate and doctoral programs flooded with foreign students. Can’t we spend our money educating SOUTH CAROLINIANS or at lease people who plan to contribute to our economy after receiving their degree.
Our public university system is corrupt as ever.
By political hack on August 4th, 2009 at 10:16 am
You would figure that $1 billion would buy you a decent football program, but that would be too much to ask for incompetent socialists. And they could at least give the law school a makeover. The progressive 70s architecture went out, well, in the 70s…
By Anonyme on August 17th, 2009 at 11:28 am
The grad school and doctoral programs are full of internationals for the same reason that the School Districts of SC employ so many grateful, willing-to-put-up-with-anything, not-even-fluent-in-English, international teachers through the Visiting International Faculty Program: As a whole, SC citizens are uneducated and could care less about public education. As one of the few SC natives left in Charleston, I can tell you that books are, as Chrissy says, like kryptonite to most of my fellow SC native citizens. That’s why some family money from the cold midwest can buy the position of SC governor. The old boys sell us pretty cheaply.