If you think American universities are top heavy with administrators you’re not alone. Last week the Arizona- based Goldwater Institute released, Administrative Bloat at American Universities: The Real Reason for High Costs in Higher Education. The report analyzes fifteen years (1993-2007) of employment, enrollment and spending data from 196 of the country’s leading institutions. According to the report:
Between 1993 and 2007, the number of full-time administrators per 100 students at America’s leading universities grew by 39 percent, while the number of employees engaged in teaching, research or service only grew by 18 percent. Inflation-adjusted spending on administration per student increased by 61 percent during the same period, while instructional spending rose by 39 percent.
How did North Carolina institutions fare? Not too well. Wake Forest a private institution ranked 196 out of 196 instiuttions with the largest percentage change in administrators per 100 students over the fifteen year period. While enrollment at Wake Forest increased 22 percent, the number of administrators per 100 students increased 370 percent. North Carolina public institutions and their collective rank include: NC State 126th; UNC-Greensboro 122 and UNC-Chapel Hill -102. Duke University in Durham had the state’s highest ranking at 37th. To Review the data from the institutions, access Appendix B here.
It should be noted the study only includes data up to 2007. Since that time UNC has taken steps to streamline administrative costs. However the data in the report accurately reflect trends for the stated years.
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