Follow up to the Wall Street Journal article on Higher Education $$ :

[PSUFTG]

This particular quote really caught my eye:
"If you’ve got a board that never asks about financials and just wants to talk about winning the next game or when the cocktail party is, they are not going to get a lot done,” he (Marty Kotis, Trustee at UNC Chapel Hill) said.

Colleges Urged to Produce Better Information on How They Spend Money (msn.com)

 

[TiogaLion]

Did Schwartz really believe it was a good idea to keep this in the news by releasing a statement that not only confirmed what they had previously reported but gave them reason to find more?

 

[BobPSU92]

This particular quote really caught my eye:
"If you’ve got a board that never asks about financials and just wants to talk about winning the next game or when the cocktail party is, they are not going to get a lot done,” he (Marty Kotis, Trustee at UNC Chapel Hill) said.

Colleges Urged to Produce Better Information on How They Spend Money (msn.com)

We resemble that remark.

 

[BobPSU92]

Did Schwartz really believe it was a good idea to keep this in the news by releasing a statement that not only confirmed what they had previously reported but gave them reason to find more?

Any press is good press.

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

"Justin Schwartz, the provost at Pennsylvania State University, one of the schools highlighted in the Journal’s article, released a statement on the school’s website Thursday saying Penn State has “curbed tuition increases aggressively.” Moreover, state funding, which he said the school uses to reduce in-state tuition, has dropped dramatically over the past 20 years."

Such nonsense. There is never any admission of spending too much. And if state support had been (for example) $50 million higher per year, PSU would have simply spent $50 million more.

 

[BobPSU92]

"Justin Schwartz, the provost at Pennsylvania State University, one of the schools highlighted in the Journal’s article, released a statement on the school’s website Thursday saying Penn State has “curbed tuition increases aggressively.” Moreover, state funding, which he said the school uses to reduce in-state tuition, has dropped dramatically over the past 20 years."

Such nonsense. There is never any admission of spending too much. And if state support had been (for example) $50 million higher per year, PSU would have simply spent $50 million more.

Obviously the school will never admit publicly that they spend too much.

 

[Keyser Soze 16802]

Obviously the school will never admit publicly that they spend too much.

Then they shouldn't expect people to take their statements seriously. A little contrition and ownership of the problem goes a long way

 

[LionJim]

"Justin Schwartz, the provost at Pennsylvania State University, one of the schools highlighted in the Journal’s article, released a statement on the school’s website Thursday saying Penn State has “curbed tuition increases aggressively.” Moreover, state funding, which he said the school uses to reduce in-state tuition, has dropped dramatically over the past 20 years."

Such nonsense. There is never any admission of spending too much. And if state support had been (for example) $50 million higher per year, PSU would have simply spent $50 million more.

I have to wonder why this is coming from the Provost.

 

[BobPSU92]

Then they shouldn't expect people to take their statements seriously. A little contrition and ownership of the problem goes a long way

They probably figure that enough people hate government and will therefore accept the blame on reduced funding.

 

[Midnighter]

This particular quote really caught my eye:
"If you’ve got a board that never asks about financials and just wants to talk about winning the next game or when the cocktail party is, they are not going to get a lot done,” he (Marty Kotis, Trustee at UNC Chapel Hill) said.

Colleges Urged to Produce Better Information on How They Spend Money (msn.com)

What is the gameday set up for BOT members at Beaver Stadium? Free tickets? Drinks? Food? Tailgate? Just curious.

 

[PSUFTG]

What is the gameday set up for BOT members at Beaver Stadium? Free tickets? Drinks? Food? Tailgate? Just curious.

The September and November BOT meetings are scheduled during weeks of home games.

On those weekends, the President hosts a tailgate in Medlar Field. Trustees are invited (along with a guest) to attend the tailgate, and to get passes for the game - to watch from the President's Suite (which is huge - like 100-150 seats, and a big common area)
Big buffets open for hours and hours, open bar, etc - as you might imagine, it is pretty nice

Many of the Trustees have their own suites - or at least blocks of tickets.... so not everyone takes advantage of that invitation (I did for one of them last year - I think it was the Maryland game. I think the other was for the CMU game.... which I didn't go to). I would guess maybe 2/3 or so of the 36 do take advantage of the tickets.

That said, in addition to those games, Trustees can request suite tickets for any game, and in larger quantities - but those are dealt with on a "space available basis" My wife and I did that for one of the cold weather games last year - I think MSU.

Trustees can also ask the Board office to help them procure "regular tickets" (bleacher seats) - but pay the going rate for them.

Trustees also get an "All Access" pass for once they are in the stadium (at least they did last year - I haven't heard anything about this year) that - I am told - allows them to access other parts of the stadium or to go down on the field for the game. I was told it can be used to attend the post-game PC, visit the locker room after the game, and what not.... but - aside from going down to field level before a White Out game, to see what that looked like from down there (it is quite the view, FWIW) - I've never done any of that, so I can't say for certain if that is true.

 

[VaDave4PSU]

Good question and thorough answer gents.

 

[Midnighter]

The September and November BOT meetings are scheduled during weeks of home games.

On those weekends, the President hosts a tailgate in Medlar Field (actually, she does that every game - but specifically including the trustees on those two dates There are always a lot of invited guests, donors, etc). Trustees are invited (along with a guest) to attend the tailgate, and to get passes for the game - to watch from the President's Suite (which is huge - like 100-150 seats, and a big common area)
Big buffets open for hours and hours, open bar, etc - as you might imagine, it is pretty nice

Many of the Trustees have their own suites - or at least blocks of tickets.... so not everyone takes advantage of that invitation (I did for one of them last year - I think it was the Maryland game. I think the other was for the CMU game.... which I didn't go to). I would guess maybe 2/3 or so of the 36 do take advantage of the tickets.

That said, in addition to those games, Trustees can request suite tickets for any game, and in larger quantities - but those are dealt with on a "space available basis" My wife and I did that for one of the cold weather games last year - I think MSU.

Trustees can also ask the Board office to help them procure "regular tickets" (bleacher seats) - but pay the going rate for them (usually there are some held back by the Development Office and what not for any last minute requests from big donors and such things).

Trustees also get an "All Access" pass for once they are in the stadium (at least they did last year - I haven't heard anything about this year) that - I am told - allows them to access other parts of the stadium or to go down on the field for the game. I was told it can be used to attend the post-game PC, visit the locker room after the game, and what not.... but - aside from going down to field level before a White Out game, to see what that looked like from down there (it is quite the view, FWIW) - I've never done any of that, so I can't say for certain if that is true.

Any other perks of membership (not limited to food/seats/access at sporting events)?

 

[BobPSU92]

The September and November BOT meetings are scheduled during weeks of home games.

On those weekends, the President hosts a tailgate in Medlar Field (actually, she does that every game - but specifically including the trustees on those two dates There are always a lot of invited guests, donors, etc). Trustees are invited (along with a guest) to attend the tailgate, and to get passes for the game - to watch from the President's Suite (which is huge - like 100-150 seats, and a big common area)
Big buffets open for hours and hours, open bar, etc - as you might imagine, it is pretty nice

Many of the Trustees have their own suites - or at least blocks of tickets.... so not everyone takes advantage of that invitation (I did for one of them last year - I think it was the Maryland game. I think the other was for the CMU game.... which I didn't go to). I would guess maybe 2/3 or so of the 36 do take advantage of the tickets.

That said, in addition to those games, Trustees can request suite tickets for any game, and in larger quantities - but those are dealt with on a "space available basis" My wife and I did that for one of the cold weather games last year - I think MSU.

Trustees can also ask the Board office to help them procure "regular tickets" (bleacher seats) - but pay the going rate for them (usually there are some held back by the Development Office and what not for any last minute requests from big donors and such things).

Trustees also get an "All Access" pass for once they are in the stadium (at least they did last year - I haven't heard anything about this year) that - I am told - allows them to access other parts of the stadium or to go down on the field for the game. I was told it can be used to attend the post-game PC, visit the locker room after the game, and what not.... but - aside from going down to field level before a White Out game, to see what that looked like from down there (it is quite the view, FWIW) - I've never done any of that, so I can't say for certain if that is true.

 

[ApexLion]

The September and November BOT meetings are scheduled during weeks of home games.

On those weekends, the President hosts a tailgate in Medlar Field (actually, she does that every game - but specifically including the trustees on those two dates There are always a lot of invited guests, donors, etc). Trustees are invited (along with a guest) to attend the tailgate, and to get passes for the game - to watch from the President's Suite (which is huge - like 100-150 seats, and a big common area)
Big buffets open for hours and hours, open bar, etc - as you might imagine, it is pretty nice

Many of the Trustees have their own suites - or at least blocks of tickets.... so not everyone takes advantage of that invitation (I did for one of them last year - I think it was the Maryland game. I think the other was for the CMU game.... which I didn't go to). I would guess maybe 2/3 or so of the 36 do take advantage of the tickets.

That said, in addition to those games, Trustees can request suite tickets for any game, and in larger quantities - but those are dealt with on a "space available basis" My wife and I did that for one of the cold weather games last year - I think MSU.

Trustees can also ask the Board office to help them procure "regular tickets" (bleacher seats) - but pay the going rate for them (usually there are some held back by the Development Office and what not for any last minute requests from big donors and such things).

Trustees also get an "All Access" pass for once they are in the stadium (at least they did last year - I haven't heard anything about this year) that - I am told - allows them to access other parts of the stadium or to go down on the field for the game. I was told it can be used to attend the post-game PC, visit the locker room after the game, and what not.... but - aside from going down to field level before a White Out game, to see what that looked like from down there (it is quite the view, FWIW) - I've never done any of that, so I can't say for certain if that is true.

I encourage anyone who cares about PSU to attend one of these. I did back in the day when I worked in state government. It's another world and truly not your typical gameday experience. I know now why Sandusky was handled the way it was - the self-professed elites don't want any shade coming their way ever. It's about appearances, networking and using the university as a vehicle for self and company promotion. Got to watch GS up close at one of these events in the Jordan Center and I couldn't decide if he was totally FOS or actually playing these moneyed fools in to supporting his initiatives. A little of both I suppose.

 

[PSUFTG]

Any other perks of membership (not limited to food/seats/access at sporting events)?

They only one I am aware of - and I will say the one that I find most useful - is the "magic pass", as I call it.
A parking pass that basically allows you to park anywhere on campus - aside from spots designated for a specific individual or usage (like OPP or Handicapped or what not).

Anyone who deals with parking on UP campus knows how useful that can be. Truly... that is like gold, IMO.

 

[Midnighter]

They only one I am aware of - and I will say the one that I find most useful - is the "magic pass", as I call it.
A parking pass that basically allows you to park anywhere on campus - aside from spots designated for a specific individual or usage (like OPP or Handicapped or what not).

Anyone who deals with parking on UP campus knows how useful that can be. Truly... that is like gold, IMO.

LOL. My roommate got busted for stealing a teacher's parking pass and using it. His story to PSU was that he bought it at a frat party from a guy named 'Blaze'. Anyway, had to pay restitution and some other things. Was great to have though....

 

[TiogaLion]

If Schwartz had just kept his mouth shut we most likely would not have been in the follow-up article.

 

[LionJim]

Good question and thorough answer gents.

Yeah, covered all the bases, that. And once transparency becomes the habit, things get easier.

 

[Roar More]

Barry is a gift we gave to ourselves.

 

[WestSideLion]

"Justin Schwartz, the provost at Pennsylvania State University, one of the schools highlighted in the Journal’s article, released a statement on the school’s website Thursday saying Penn State has “curbed tuition increases aggressively.” Moreover, state funding, which he said the school uses to reduce in-state tuition, has dropped dramatically over the past 20 years."

Such nonsense. There is never any admission of spending too much. And if state support had been (for example) $50 million higher per year, PSU would have simply spent $50 million more.

On a related note: an old PSU friend just wrote the tuition, room and board check for his son’s first semester at UP.

The price tag? $27,500 for out of state.

There’s nothing approaching ROI there. PSU doesn’t have enough legacy alum goodwill to sustain this.