Been listening to the Chancellor put multiple spins on fall enrollment at SIUC: largest Freshman class in 6 years, freshman class size increased for the third consecutive year, increase of 2.5% new students from the region, etc. Still, when you look at overall numbers, enrollment is down 1.4%, in a year when Uof I Champaign enrolled record numbers. It is not that students do not want to go to college, it just appears they do not want go to college at SIUC.
Throwing money at the athletic program won't do it. I have taught at SEMO for twenty years. Every year for 20 years I have asked students why they chose to come there. Responses are always the same with these the top three: 1. cost 2. location 3. programs. The only ones who have ever said they came because of the athletic program were those attending on an athletic scholarship.
At least someone is alert to the b.s. Dr. Feelgood (fired from his last position for manipulating numbers but hired by SIUC!) has been spouting out. He does not now even live in the area while President Devious Dan occupies the "corridors of power" in Springfield eager for his $6000,000 raise or his next job.
ReplyDeleteDon't you remember plagiarist President Poshard stating that students would come to SIU for Athletics? They did not. Also, although there is a slight increase in freshmen, a certain proportion do not return since they see with their own eyes the run-down academic programs. frequent equipment breakdowns, cutbacks in library staff and hours and you name it, a general deterioration in morale with the exception of high-paid administrators. Again, look at the cultural and economic deterioration of Carbondale in contrast to 15 years ago. What student would want to return as a sophomore? Word does get round. .Also why did the BOT increase the salaries of Feelgood and DD BEFORE these numbers were announced.
If HAMLET recognized "Something rotten in the state of Denmark", SIUC has projected the stink of corruption for decades with its treatment of low paid, civil service, janitorial, Physical Plant, , and academic staff while administrators live "The Life of Riley" in a world of denial spouting fantasies that even an 8 year-old child can see through.
I don't think "throwing money" at the sports programs was intended to boost enrollment. It was intended to boost moral of the more than 250,000 alumni who saw their once proud institution rapidly decline. Once you graduate, sports are the main reason you see your school in the news. That may not be "fair" but it is an objective truth. Thats why colleges/universities put so much money into sports. It's the most effective advertising a school can buy. Nothing comes close.
ReplyDeleteThis is wrong. Poshard stated that sports was intended to boost enrollment. Whatever "wet dreams" alumni may have had the fact remains that students came to SIUC for an education which due to Poshard's anti-intellectualism they did not get. The decline in enrollments began when he became President having forced the BOT to appoint him. He had no experience in this field at all as a failed politician. Universities are about education, not sport.
ReplyDeleteThe sports program may get SIUC some attention in the national press (a quick Google search found only one non-SIUC link on the first page) and get some attention. However, the students who come and pay tuition are coming because of some combination of low cost, location and programs offered.
ReplyDeleteYes, agree with that. The only time SIUC gets some attention re. sports is when it loses. Some good programs do exist on campus such as Aviation, Agriculture, and the Medical School. Yet those attending the Medical School gain because they often do not have enough time to see what Carbondale is like because they are so busy doing heavy course work. Attendance has nothing to do with Sport yet millions are lost on this expensive and non-dividend gaining toy every year. Economic collapse may not be long
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, millions of dollars are being list on SIUC sports every year. It is a drain on educational resources and the money could be better spent raising the salaries of poor paid workers on campus, many of whom have to do second jobs and can barely afford gas to travel to work. Any business that runs on a loss goes under and there is no reason why the over-privileged SIUC Sports program should be exempt from the facts of everyday economic life.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, not arguing with you. Sports does attract attention. However, no-one, except for athletes, goes to a college because of its sports program. They attend because of some combination of cost, programs and location. The univeristy would be better served by allocating scarce dollars towards improving student facilities and programs and making sure those programs dealing with students are fully staffed.
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