Recently, reader feedback and articles in The Daily Reflector have reflected ongoing confusion and misunderstanding about the way in which higher education operates. This situation is also apparent at the state and national levels as higher education has faced increased public discontent and criticism.
The attacks seem to focus on several issues: too many administrators, faculty not teaching enough and/or not being on campus throughout the day and lack of academic rigor in the curriculum.
During my 16 years at East Carolina University, I have fielded many questions around these issues and would like to offer counter arguments in response.
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Comments
*this school day schedual
ms sheerer--i really don'g care what you've fielded--*this school day schedule would be absolute NECTOR to a kindergarten-- ele teacher-- who must stay in CONSTANT contact, teaching, watching, nuturing, nursing, parenting, ect. 7 hours a day--plus hours many teachers spend at home-- working --without pay-- grading/correcting papers/planning/calling parents,ect.(all after hours) compared to what is eluded to in this article. WE don't want to get into a contest here-- but--ms sheerer--you won't win.
*way more time is spent in
*way more time is spent in most of the chores listed by ms sheerer by most ele teachers every day. as an old retired ele school teacher, i just can't feel sorry for these university professors and their "duties". i've known a few and i know what they do. and ms sheerers' salary of $270 K plus? ridiculous for the taxpayer. really, ms sheerer--you would have been better off not letting this info get out to an educated, knowing, questioning public...or even to an uneducaated, unknowing, unquestioning public.
Avoid uninformed, simple arguments
The two comments that exist have no clue about what the state funds and does not fund. About 20% of the UNC system's budget comes from taxpayer contributions. ECU's portion is a little bit higher, but many state institutions are not funded like they were 25 years ago. State institutions increasingly rely on grants, public-private partnerships, and other means outside of the tax base. A match of 6% in retirement benefits get paid into 403b plans through university dollars (not all of which are state dollars), and the state retirement system is a different story. However, the state system is far more risky than it was when Dr. Sheerer assumed tenure.
Tenure is not granted easily, especially now. Professors are expected to bring in funded research, teach, and perform service obligations. Most professors have PhDs that take years of schooling and are experts in a given field. To get tenure, many need to satisfy requirements that indicate leadership in their given fields and performance that benefits the state. They work non-traditional hours, well beyond 40 hours, and often have to work nights and weekends. In service to the state, professors perform service to communities and are responsible for bringing in grants and developing service projects with students that benefit communities in Pitt County and the eastern region. In almost every region of the state where a UNC system university exists, residents benefit. That benefit far exceeds the value of the tax contribution.
It's easy to pick on higher education and public education when examining the state tax rolls, but when you consider the real benefit these programs bring, the argument that these are tax syphons is moot.
*thank you--easydoesit. most
*thank you--easydoesit. most of what you said made much sense--i will ponder it.
*ah...please spare me-i'm an
*ah...please spare me-i'm an old retired ele teacher who has experienced more than some. while some of this may be true--and most admiredly so --this may not be typical of ALL--just as in any profession. one might think an old retired school teacher would be a little predijuced FOR--but--i've seen too much. waste is waste and we should be rid of it.
Need to understand impact of cuts
I agree, waste is a terrible thing. ECU has made major cuts, and was way ahead of other UNC system schools when the budget crisis hit. They are currently examining a consolidation plan to tighten things even further. However, this will not stop tuition from rising, it will just slow it down. The state has cut the budget a great deal since 2008. There has been a reduction each year. Open positions (whether to retirement, dismissal or strategic direction) have been closed, merit raises have not been granted, and the university has stopped expanding in most areas except the medical areas (which are viewed as a need for this part of the state) and those where other critical needs exist.
Before all of this hit, there was talk that ECU would become the second largest university in the state (to NC state), that won't happen. It will probably stay where it is at in terms of size, and that's ok. Wasteful spending should be scrutinized and it has. What the public needs to realize is that impending cuts (and there will be more) means higher tuition for college students and a reduction of the university's presence in the region.
ECU has been a tremendous economic engine for Pitt County, and to a lesser extent, the eastern region of the state. It has also been an affordable institution for a region that does not enjoy the prosperity of the triangle, the triad, and Charlotte. This isn't about faculty jobs, it's about providing affordable education for students and being a resource for this area.
One last thing, and this is about faculty salaries (but it also applies to public school teachers), there is a point at which North Carolina becomes unattractive to those who have the talent and wherewithal to be great educators and leaders to our young people. There is a tradeoff. People get paid what they get paid, in large part, because of competition and demand. I am not going to be foolish and say that's the case for everyone at ECU, but it is for a good majority. There are real consequences associated with the cuts. While we need to get our house in order, we also need to understand that we can lose some "wheat" while separating the "chaff" from it.
Dr.Sheerer has been at ECU 16
Dr.Sheerer has been at ECU 16 years. Salary:$276,000. Paid for by taxpayers. Retirement at around $100,000 paid for by taxpayers. Office paid for by taxpayers, health insurance paid for by taxpayers, life insurance paid for by taxpayers. The list goes on and on. We have been scammed for many,many years now and it is biting us in the rear end.
*thank you--2019--this info
*thank you--2019--this info is public knowledge--please tell all of us how we can access this info--after all, taxpyers pay this and we all need to know how to access it.
The Info is easy to find
You can google East Carolina University Faculty Salaries and find it here:
http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/ipar/research/FacultySalaryReports.cfm
You can also look at the State Auditor's report, which is here:
http://www.ncauditor.net/EPSWeb/Reports/Financial/FIN-2011-6065.pdf
It lists the state's contribution at 34%. However, if you remove the Federal Recovery Funds, it is a little over 31%
That number will decrease with the new budget appropriation.
Spin it all you want to,the
Spin it all you want to,the facts are the faculty and administrators have been and continue to leech off the taxpayers. The salaries, and especially the benefits after retirement, are obscene. Stop the whining and crying and stop the welfare for professors called tenure.
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