New Fundraising

Lafalum · New Fundraising

It appears new capital initiatives for athletics is not in the offing. After the stadium, McCracken, and new track at Metzger there seems to be little appetite for a major construction project (eg. Kirby Fied house renovation)
New initiatives will be for a new theatre, Life Sciences, prof endowments and increased aid. I still think reducing the size of the incoming classes is a huge mistake. Where do you find the students to be in the orchestra choir,newspaper,sports teams? You can't do everything and if you do you need more students. The numbers don't work!!

TheTruth

it all sounds good. I'm very disappointed that a renovated field house is not one of the main objectives. If Weis was smart, you get the funding for that project out of the way as soon as possible. Plus you made a majjor commitment to the basketball program with scholarships.

I don't understand why he feels we need to limit the size of the incoming classes. The Admissions Office has already stated in past reprots to teh BOT that they can sustain growth and ensure the quality of students. All the studies conducted a few years ago indicate we need to be closer to 2500 then 2300. It seems like Weis wants to bash US News & World report for their survey but at the same time he is using the survey to make his decisions. Instead of limiting the size of the incoming classes, he should just hire more faculty. Yes I know it cost more money but you offset it with the additional tuition from larger classes. Also if we are enlarging the performing arts, don't we need additional faculty? I guess the biggest question is what else are we going to do with a $850 million dollar endowment?

Lafalum · Is weis a short timer??

I love the guy. He broke the logjam on scholarships and preserved the character and traditions of the school. But the stance on limiting growth is strange unless his objective is to make an impact in our numbers in the shortest posible time and then move on.
Presidents stay an average of 7 years, could his stay by shorter than that?? I would like to see a long range plan, one that reasonably foresees demographic shifts and puts into place a financial plan to respond to it. Staying at 2,000 students does not cut it and ignores long term needs and demands while only answering short term issues!!!

TheTruth

Obviously you are getting mail that many of us on this board are not.

Not sure what Weis' long range goals are. It would be nice to see them. I understand that they do have a new Strategic Plan or at least one was in the works. That normally illustrates the direction of the college and the areas for fundraising.

I know they are continuing to look at ways to diversify the campus. But they also need to address the costs of the school. 6-7% increases each year is too much. Unfortunately, I don't see anyway of controlling those costs esp. since Weis has made the decision to limit enrollment. Again he is leading with US News in the back of his mind. If we are going to expand the performing arts and decrease enrollment, it will take away from other areas. What areas will that be?

Pard4Life

The tuition increase figures are a bit ridiculous... I saw the figures about a month ago and they are about 6-7% as posted a above.. we are looking at 47-49,000 by 2012 per year..

Also, they are going to add an admissions reception area (I don't know how they are going to build it)

Another major area is globalization/international relations... this will recieve a major redesign and added courses..

But yes, now that I think of it, we are spreading ourselves thin in the enrollment area.. there are not that many music/arts students presently, and increasing our facilities might increase enrollment and trim spots down elsewhere..

Plus, a greater student body will afford us more alumni and $$$ years from now

I saw a study (forget where) that students ideally prefer colleges in the 3,000 - 5,000 range (forget the high end number).. we clearly fall outside of the preference value... this is also why Bucknell has seen a surge in applicants.. basketball helped somewhat, but the size has something to do with it too... we are about even in terms of academic caliber with Bucknell..

(more students would also make us more attractive to companies who recruit at Lafayette.. which needs work IMO)

Lafalum

You know I didn't think of it but you're right about the size and attractiveness for recruiting. I would recruit for my company and it was like pulling teeth to get them come to Lafayette because of our size. Efficiencies of scale.

New Fundraising

Is weis a short timer??