A year ago, the Centre Daily Times published my op-ed that lamented the fact that in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Penn State was 63rd in academic ranking and 174th in best value ranking. It was to be a wake-up call for our board. Apparently, no one answered.
We now have a five-alarm fire! This year our 2023 academic ranking has fallen to No. 77 (tied) and best value to No. 207. And based on the recently announced 5% tuition hike (6% for out of state), we are on a trajectory to join the bottom 50% of best value national universities next year (443 are ranked). At the same time, it is notable that our statewide competition is apparently better managing their affairs and thriving. The 2023 U.S. News and World Report includes 10 other Pennsylvania national universities in the top 100 in best value. What is happening in Happy Valley?
In 2014 when President Barron was appointed president, Penn State’s academic ranking was No. 44. We have fallen 33 places over the past eight years. Where is our board? Apparently focused on things like a $70 million pay package for our football coach, $1 million retention/retirement bonus for Barron and a $71,000 gender equity raise (salary now exceeding one-half million) for our treasurer. (Whatever happened to pay for performance?) And these decisions have been made in the context of the past year’s $200 million budget deficit.
Much of this deficit is due to a 20% enrollment decline (likely 10,000 students) on our commonwealth campuses over the past five years. Apparently, Pennsylvania families are finding better value alternatives for their children, rejecting the regional campus pathway to a PSU degree. To help address this deficit, this year all the academic units will face a 3% rescission. Here is another suggestion: all VPs making over one-half million dollars take a 3% salary cut.
Our new president is forming a new budget planning team. We also need a team (board and senior leadership) to address our dismal U.S. News ranking. And President Bendapudi, this ranking is not a “single rating or number.” It uses 18 factors that measure the university performance relative to graduation rate, first-year retention, student excellence, student indebtedness, faculty salaries, alumni giving, etc. These things matter to parents, students, faculty, alumni and employers. It is without question, the nation’s (and world’s) de-facto guide to quality in U.S. higher education. I am sure that our newly appointed enrollment manager understands that our ranking affects demand (and subsequent tuition revenue).
I hope and trust that our board and new president can turn this around. In my view, returning to the Top 50 national universities within five years should supersede all other priorities. It is time for our board to acknowledge our downward trend, uphold their fiduciary role and finally take some action.
Allen L. Soyster, Ph.D., is a Penn State alumnus and the former head of the Penn State Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.
