Who's Paycheck is Higher in Public-College Institutions?

At UT Tyler, it is not difficult to guess the comparative rate of pay for faculty, staff, and administration members. Pay increases as it normally would in a Division 3 institution, with the president of the university holding the most impressive pay stub, and a decreasing number as you move down the hierarchy of command and control. There obviously exists a direct relationship between rate of pay and authority at UT Tyler, but do other public universities have the same relationship with their staff and administration?

Not surprisingly, the answer is no. The Chronicle of Higher Education shared a survey on executive compensation on May 18th indicating that head coaches for football and basketball often carry higher salaries than the university's president and other high-status administration members. This trend occurs in more than 40 states, reflecting the subjective importance of sports for larger universities in the United States. This comparison occurs quite often within academic circles, as they weep helplessly as the coach of a sports team gets paid more than the professor or administrator that actually gives the institution the "higher education" qualification.

NCAA reports of revenues and expenditures by division, courtesy of Slate

At some colleges, coaches' compensation can be more than $500,000 more than a university president or other chief-executive position. That's more than double the president's salary at a typical institution. What is the utility for this type of pay distribution? Should a coach have a higher pay rate than those who keep the university running on an academic level?

It should be noted that many coaches' salaries are paid in part by athletic foundations with a hefty alumni base, so their pay comes not from tax payers, but rather former students at each university. But does that really justify their high pay? Alumni donations going toward improvements to sports facilities and high salaries for coaches means there is a large opportunity cost with not giving that money for actual academics. I'm not saying that the NCAA should be scoffed at, but rather prompting a reevaluation of our priorities within higher education institutions. UT Tyler seems to have their priorities in order; while extra-curricular activities and sports teams have large support from the administration and alumni organizations, there exists a substantial dispersion of funding to academic facilities and programs. But for other institutions in the US, priorities seem to be out of sync.

Is College Worth It?

Every year around this time, the same question is asked  and debated on between academics, college administrators, officials in the public/private sphere, and students--is college worth it? The question is of the utmost importance for recent high school and college graduates, along with their parents, who often participate in paying for the college education. They generally want to know if the experience is actually worth the cost, and if the time and money spent will increase the chances of finding a better job in an expanding economy. No doubt that students currently attending or planning on attending UT Tyler have asked this question during their time here.

The answer, according to David Leonhardt from the New York Times, is an unequivocal yes. Leonhardt looks to the college wage premium to make this determination. The college wage premium is how much more college graduates earn than everyone else, based on changing job requirements and overall economic health. Leonhardt finds that the premium is the widest it has ever been, meaning the benefits of a college degree outweigh the potential benefits of finding a job straight out of high school.

Leonhardt also note that, despite mounting fears about student debt levels in the United States and their potential deterrent effect on matriculation, the average student's loan burden pales in comparison to the long-term benefits of a bachelor's degree. That effect is strengthened with more time spent in the higher education setting; i.e. obtaining an MBA, PhD, M.D., J.D., etc.

However, one should not assume that attending college grants the same premium effect as graduating from college. Leonhardt finds that the wage premium for people with some college experience but no degree has been stagnant for years, even as debt levels has been rising. The result is that college dropouts may be worse off than people who never even enrolled. Thus, when one asks themselves "Is college worth it?" they must evaluate both the potential of a college degree and the likeliness of obtaining said degree.

FiveThirtyEight Blog's Ben Casselman breaks down the numbers for the chances of graduating from college in today's social and economic environment. He finds that less than 60 percent of full-time students enrolled in college for the first time graduate for six years. This number decreases for part-time students, racial minorities, and older and low-income students. This means the potential to work within the college wage premium decreases based on various demographics, but it does not mean that the effort to obtain a college degree should be changed. Leonhardt argues that these numbers are not reasons to decide against college; they are an argument for strengthening programs aimed at improving graduation rates.


For future and returning college students reading this post, refrain from reading this in a skeptical or pessimistic lens. Take this as motivation to finish what you started, or what you are about to start. If you have decided on attending UT Tyler, or if you are questioning your return in the Fall of 2014, keep in mind the benefits of a college degree in today's economic climate versus dropping out or not enrolling in the first place. College is a great catalyst for future success, but the only way to achieve that effect is to graduate.

Preparation tips for Finals!

               That dreaded time of the semester is just around the corner! Finals week is the time of the year where everyone tends to stress over, and where coffee becomes your best friend. Even though this week can be full packed of preparation and anxiety, there are resources on campus that can help you get mentally prepared for finals.

The Power of Supplemental Instruction

I owe a lot of my A's on exams to S.I. sessions. I don't know about anyone else but S.I. is seriously my academic hero.

Supplemental Instruction is basically a study session lead by fellow UT Tyler students (most of them upperclassmen). The best part? You don't have to pay for it directly, because it's already including in our tuition! Even more reasons to take advantage of it.

S.I. sessions are held twice a week for every class that has S.I. Unfortunately, not every class at UT Tyler come with S.I. but that would be really really great! Go here for a list of classes that have S.I. sessions.

Personally, S.I. sessions help me a lot because the S.I. leaders would go through anything that you might need help in. Also, we go over a lot of problems that we don't normally have time for in class, because lectures mostly focus on theory and concept. This way, I am pretty much prepared for the exam because I not only understand the material, I also know how to answer exam questions.

I remember freshman year, for my first ever Calculus exam, I was very distraught because I got a D. I decided to get some help and attended all of the S.I. session and believe it or not, my next Calculus exam was an A! 

So even though I am pretty swamped and busy this semester, I always, always find time to go to at least one S.I. session a week.

There's no harm in trying, so if you find yourself struggling with a class, plan to attend an S.I. session (if it has one). It may or may not be for everyone but you don't really lose anything by giving it a shot! :)

The SI website has a daily calendar that's very useful with planning your time, if you ever want to go. They also update it everyday, in case any sessions get cancelled!