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PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PUT STRATEGIES
IN PLACE TO REDUCE OPERATING COSTS
April 2008
Washington D.C. - Public colleges
and universities are looking for ways to meet the challenges
posed by reduced state financing. They are also continuing
to address the question of accountability. One way they
are focusing on these issues is by looking at cost savings
efforts on their campus to insure that they are being
good stewards of the public's resources.
The American Association of
State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), whose membership
is comprised of 430 public four-year colleges and universities,
surveyed its members in order to quantify and describe
their cost containment activities. More than 25% of
members responded to the survey. Results of the study
demonstrate that many AASCU members have strategies
in place to contain growth in college costs in order
to reduce operating costs and are seeking additional
ways to contain costs. This study reveals many best
practices that can be replicated by other institutions
and when adopted can produce savings that will improve
college affordability.
The survey shows, public four-year
universities rely more on support and business functions
in their cost control efforts than on core academic
functions:
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83 % rely on energy management to contain costs;
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61% of those surveyed belong to a consortium in
order to contain costs; most common goods or services
purchased through consortiums are computer services
and information technology as well an many types
of insurance, office supplies, library resources
and retirement benefits;
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59% find ways to contain costs on facilities and
infrastructure;
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55% find efficiencies in residence hall operations
and food services;
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More than 80% of those responding rated cost containment
as very or extremely important to their university's
overall planning efforts;
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49% look to administrative and 48% look to general
staffing levels to achieve savings while trying
to protect the academic core of the institution;
and
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When looking at ways to contain costs in academic
areas, 52% use distance/online learning; 41% have
increased class size to stretch instructional dollars;
35% joint degree program offerings with other institutions.
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