Many friends of the University will be contacting
their state representatives in the next month to discuss the campus's
FY 2003 budget. One statistic that would be helpful to know is
the average amount of money that the state spends for each student
who attends the University. Each of us could calculate this figure
on our own (something like total state expenditures minus what
the state collects in tuition and fees, divided by the number
of students), but it would be better if the administration provided
a single number that all can use. This number, multiplied by the
number of UMass students in a legislator's district, roughly represents
the amount of dollars that flow into the district as a result
of its students attending the University. This money is very real
- just as the increased tuition and fees paid as a result of the
shortfall in the University's state appropriation comes directly
out of the pockets of the district's residents who attend UMass.
When I talk to a legislator, I want to be able to say that the
University is worth x amount of dollars to their district, the
same as a highway project or other state spending.
DAVID GLASSBERG
professor and chair,
Department of History
Joyce Hatch, associate vice chancellor for Finance
and Budget, replies:
Basically, when including all state appropriations
and adjusting for the tuition we remit to the state, and the fringe
benefits the state pays for state employees, the FY02 current
operating state support is $10,485 per full-time equivalent (FTE)
student. This does not include possible capital funding that varies
from year to year.
