I want transparency and accountability from UVA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want Dean J’s cute little videos about their holistic approach and how they want to see this and that from a student. I don’t need dean j at all. For in state admissions I want a formula. Kid took these classes, got these grades, got that SAT, then guaranteed admission to UVA or WM or Vtech or whatever other VA state school, end of story. Otherwise you are not getting my tax dollars. [/quote]


It's all provided, annually by The Commonwealth in the State Council on Higher Education report. You can find out everything you would ever want about any statistic of every private and public in Virginia. https://www.schev.edu/index/students-and-parents/explore/virginia-institutions. For example, it tells you that of the students who actually enrolled last fall, the 75th percentile had a 1520, a 35 ACT and a 4.52 GPA. It's all there. Pages and pages of data.

And BTW UVA stopped taking state bucks more than a decade ago so it could spin itself off as a self-sustaining entity. Today it receives less than 6% of its operating budget from the Commonwealth. Meanwhile, its endowment has ballooned.

UVA still receives state appropriations both for operations (about $162M/yr.) and capital projects. The $162M is about 39% more than JMU receives, and JMU has more in-state undergraduates than UVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way the Commonwealth would let these schools go private, nothing to gain. I am surprised at the 6% funding number. I would have guessed it was in the 20% range.

It's now less than 6% from the Commonwealth. From wiki

"As of 2013, UVA's $1.4 billion academic budget is paid for primarily by tuition and fees (32%), research grants (23%), endowment and gifts (19%), and sales and services (12%).[100] The university receives 10% of its academic funds through state appropriation from the Commonwealth of Virginia.[100] For the overall (including non-academic) university budget of $2.6 billion, 45% comes from medical patient revenue.[100] The Commonwealth contributes less than 6%.[100]
Although UVA is the flagship university of Virginia, state funding has decreased for several consecutive decades.[51] Financial support from the state dropped by half from 12 percent of total revenue in 2001–02 to six percent in 2013–14.[51] The portion of academic revenue coming from the state fell by even more in the same period, from 22 percent to just nine percent.[51] This nominal support from the state, contributing just $154 million of UVA's $2.6 billion budget in 2012–13, has led President Sullivan and others to contemplate the partial privatization of the University of Virginia.[101] UVA's Darden School and Law School are already self-sufficient."

Hospital system operations have never been funded by state general fund appropriations. It is funded predominantly by patient fees - insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, out of pocket. So of course it is going to pull down the overall percentage. Auxiliary operations (room and board) are also not funded by state appropriations anywhere in Virginia public schools, and they are a significant percentage of the overall academic budget. If UVA did not get a state appropriation it would have to make that funding up through tuition and fees, which would have to be about 35% higher overall, but the biggest part of that would fall on in-state because OOS tuition is already set at near private school levels. So to say state funding is insignificant is misleading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want Dean J’s cute little videos about their holistic approach and how they want to see this and that from a student. I don’t need dean j at all. For in state admissions I want a formula. Kid took these classes, got these grades, got that SAT, then guaranteed admission to UVA or WM or Vtech or whatever other VA state school, end of story. Otherwise you are not getting my tax dollars.

. You know UVa used to have a photo on the application and yes, the student body had disproportionately large blue eyes and post-braces jaws. It was tax-payer funded for in-state tuition, so UVa has had enough power to tax everyone so that only the above-average looking could get to attend Mr. Jefferson's University.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way the Commonwealth would let these schools go private, nothing to gain. I am surprised at the 6% funding number. I would have guessed it was in the 20% range.

It's now less than 6% from the Commonwealth. From wiki

"As of 2013, UVA's $1.4 billion academic budget is paid for primarily by tuition and fees (32%), research grants (23%), endowment and gifts (19%), and sales and services (12%).[100] The university receives 10% of its academic funds through state appropriation from the Commonwealth of Virginia.[100] For the overall (including non-academic) university budget of $2.6 billion, 45% comes from medical patient revenue.[100] The Commonwealth contributes less than 6%.[100]
Although UVA is the flagship university of Virginia, state funding has decreased for several consecutive decades.[51] Financial support from the state dropped by half from 12 percent of total revenue in 2001–02 to six percent in 2013–14.[51] The portion of academic revenue coming from the state fell by even more in the same period, from 22 percent to just nine percent.[51] This nominal support from the state, contributing just $154 million of UVA's $2.6 billion budget in 2012–13, has led President Sullivan and others to contemplate the partial privatization of the University of Virginia.[101] UVA's Darden School and Law School are already self-sufficient."

Looking at their endowment, it makes sense for UVA to receive less. Give it to the other schools. I looked up W&M, and the commonwealth funds about 11% of their budget. It is interesting that Darden and the Law school are basically private institutions.

UVA built that endowment AFTER it asked to be spun off. Then the Commonwealth saw it and wanted it back. Nay nay, UVA said!

None of that is correct. UVA has never asked to be spun off. UVA, along with other public universities in Virginia, gained greater autonomy from state processes like procurement through a Restructuring Act, but that was never about privatizing. UVA had a substantial endowment for a public university before the passing of the Restructuring Act. The Commonwealth doesn't want UVA back because UVA never left. If UVA were to go private, it would need to purchase all of its land and buildings from the state. That would probably be about $5B to fund.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what we foreigners have been saying for years, OP. In the rest of the world, there is a formula, or at least much more of one than here. You have the grades, you get in, is what it essentially boils down to.

Here admissions committees are allowed to be racist, discriminatory, and they openly favor children of alumni, children of billionaire donors, and children with no particular academic strength who happen to be good at sports.

It's disgusting, and yet, the brain-washed American people continue to believe it's a great "holistic" system and they beggar themselves or their children to get in, instead of voting for politicians who might make university low-cost, like in other developed countries.

You have this backward. Kind of completely. Holistic allows in more URMs. A numbers game and the school would be 100% Asian and White. That is the racist system. As for the other things you mention -- if you think kids of the rich and powerful are not getting into European Universities because they tested low or had low grades you are crazy.

So ignorant and offensive to claim not a single URM can get into UVA without a preferential treatment. Anyway, it should be up to Virginia voters to decide if they want their public universities to discriminate on any basis other than academic achievement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want Dean J’s cute little videos about their holistic approach and how they want to see this and that from a student. I don’t need dean j at all. For in state admissions I want a formula. Kid took these classes, got these grades, got that SAT, then guaranteed admission to UVA or WM or Vtech or whatever other VA state school, end of story. Otherwise you are not getting my tax dollars.

This is not the way any college selects students. Why would you want that. There is no formula.

UT is required to do just that by state law. Virginia could impose the same standards on state schools if they choose to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what we foreigners have been saying for years, OP. In the rest of the world, there is a formula, or at least much more of one than here. You have the grades, you get in, is what it essentially boils down to.

Here admissions committees are allowed to be racist, discriminatory, and they openly favor children of alumni, children of billionaire donors, and children with no particular academic strength who happen to be good at sports.

It's disgusting, and yet, the brain-washed American people continue to believe it's a great "holistic" system and they beggar themselves or their children to get in, instead of voting for politicians who might make university low-cost, like in other developed countries.

In other countries the state contribution to tuition is basically one hundred percent. There is no way that tax burden would be tolerated here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't work that way anymore. It used to. When I grew up in CA there was a formula that guaranteed you admission to UC schools. That's not true now.

It’s never worked at UVA. I was wait listed the sane year Scalia’s son was rejected back in the late 80s.

I had straight As, was #10 rank in a Ffx Co school of 550 in my grade. I was a class officer, played a Varsity sport all 4 years which won the VA State champ., had a ton of other ECs and great recs.

We were told back then there was a quota from NoVA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want Dean J’s cute little videos about their holistic approach and how they want to see this and that from a student. I don’t need dean j at all. For in state admissions I want a formula. Kid took these classes, got these grades, got that SAT, then guaranteed admission to UVA or WM or Vtech or whatever other VA state school, end of story. Otherwise you are not getting my tax dollars.

. You know UVa used to have a photo on the application and yes, the student body had disproportionately large blue eyes and post-braces jaws. It was tax-payer funded for in-state tuition, so UVa has had enough power to tax everyone so that only the above-average looking could get to attend Mr. Jefferson's University.

You would think the alumni would be better looking. Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what we foreigners have been saying for years, OP. In the rest of the world, there is a formula, or at least much more of one than here. You have the grades, you get in, is what it essentially boils down to.

Here admissions committees are allowed to be racist, discriminatory, and they openly favor children of alumni, children of billionaire donors, and children with no particular academic strength who happen to be good at sports.

It's disgusting, and yet, the brain-washed American people continue to believe it's a great "holistic" system and they beggar themselves or their children to get in, instead of voting for politicians who might make university low-cost, like in other developed countries.

In other countries the state contribution to tuition is basically one hundred percent. There is no way that tax burden would be tolerated here.

Maybe, if you paired down colleges to what their European equivalents offer (in terms of housing, food, extra curricular, sports...) and cut the number of seats across the system starting in high school though graduate school to match systems that start weeding out far younger the costs might not be that different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what we foreigners have been saying for years, OP. In the rest of the world, there is a formula, or at least much more of one than here. You have the grades, you get in, is what it essentially boils down to.

Here admissions committees are allowed to be racist, discriminatory, and they openly favor children of alumni, children of billionaire donors, and children with no particular academic strength who happen to be good at sports.

It's disgusting, and yet, the brain-washed American people continue to believe it's a great "holistic" system and they beggar themselves or their children to get in, instead of voting for politicians who might make university low-cost, like in other developed countries.

You have this backward. Kind of completely. Holistic allows in more URMs. A numbers game and the school would be 100% Asian and White. That is the racist system. As for the other things you mention -- if you think kids of the rich and powerful are not getting into European Universities because they tested low or had low grades you are crazy.

Holistic admissions was started to discriminate against Jews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what we foreigners have been saying for years, OP. In the rest of the world, there is a formula, or at least much more of one than here. You have the grades, you get in, is what it essentially boils down to.

Here admissions committees are allowed to be racist, discriminatory, and they openly favor children of alumni, children of billionaire donors, and children with no particular academic strength who happen to be good at sports.

It's disgusting, and yet, the brain-washed American people continue to believe it's a great "holistic" system and they beggar themselves or their children to get in, instead of voting for politicians who might make university low-cost, like in other developed countries.

In other countries the state contribution to tuition is basically one hundred percent. There is no way that tax burden would be tolerated here.

Maybe, if you paired down colleges to what their European equivalents offer (in terms of housing, food, extra curricular, sports...) and cut the number of seats across the system starting in high school though graduate school to match systems that start weeding out far younger the costs might not be that different.

Are you saying European universities offer "paired down" housing compared to American universities? I find this surprising. When I was planning a trip to Scotland a few years ago, I remember seeing an economical option in some cities to stay in university dorms, since it was summer and there were no students. The accommodation offered in these dorms were FAR nicer than the dorms my kids have had in college--private rooms with larger beds, compared to the shared rooms/twin XL beds that US colleges have!

And good luck getting major universities to "pair down" football!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what we foreigners have been saying for years, OP. In the rest of the world, there is a formula, or at least much more of one than here. You have the grades, you get in, is what it essentially boils down to.

Here admissions committees are allowed to be racist, discriminatory, and they openly favor children of alumni, children of billionaire donors, and children with no particular academic strength who happen to be good at sports.

It's disgusting, and yet, the brain-washed American people continue to believe it's a great "holistic" system and they beggar themselves or their children to get in, instead of voting for politicians who might make university low-cost, like in other developed countries.

And in the rest of the world, those who attend a school that grades a bit tougher are out of luck. Those who have to work to help their families survive and thus have less time to devote to studying are out of luck. Those who have any interest outside of studying, studying, studying are out of luck. Those who volunteer their time to help others are out of luck. Etc...

The US system is vastly superior to the above. It's not like kids with a 3.0 and 1100 SATs are getting into UVa in large numbers. We're talking almost exclusively about kids with a bit lower numbers and something major going on outside of perfecting their GPA and test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand OP. It's frustrating that you pay a lot in taxes, and your kid can't even go to the state flagship.

And your friends/family in other states ask "Well why don't they just got to UVA?" when you tell them the other school (private, out of state, or other Virginia public university) your kid goes to...

Huh? VA has low tax rates.

To all of the people complaining about schools, you get what you pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is what we foreigners have been saying for years, OP. In the rest of the world, there is a formula, or at least much more of one than here. You have the grades, you get in, is what it essentially boils down to.

Here admissions committees are allowed to be racist, discriminatory, and they openly favor children of alumni, children of billionaire donors, and children with no particular academic strength who happen to be good at sports.

It's disgusting, and yet, the brain-washed American people continue to believe it's a great "holistic" system and they beggar themselves or their children to get in, instead of voting for politicians who might make university low-cost, like in other developed countries.

In other countries the state contribution to tuition is basically one hundred percent. There is no way that tax burden would be tolerated here.

Maybe, if you paired down colleges to what their European equivalents offer (in terms of housing, food, extra curricular, sports...) and cut the number of seats across the system starting in high school though graduate school to match systems that start weeding out far younger the costs might not be that different.

Are you saying European universities offer "paired down" housing compared to American universities? I find this surprising. When I was planning a trip to Scotland a few years ago, I remember seeing an economical option in some cities to stay in university dorms, since it was summer and there were no students. The accommodation offered in these dorms were FAR nicer than the dorms my kids have had in college--private rooms with larger beds, compared to the shared rooms/twin XL beds that US colleges have!

And good luck getting major universities to "pair down" football!

Football is a net positive for revenue. Swimming/Lacrosse/soccer... all lose money. If you were staying at Edinborough or St Andrews you were staying at very rich school well supported by foreigners paying tuition as well as centuries old endowments. Try doing the same at a more modern continental university.