Interesting Letter from UT re: Tuition (Houston, Austin: for sale, lease, neighborhoods)

[unsmicck]

What is/was the tomorrow fund?

[chickenfry]

Was. you bought the plan for your kid. paid into for a set amount for a set number of years. when your child reached college age, it paid their tuition at any state school. it has been closed now for several years

[G Grasshopper]

OK, since we are talking about tuition, as an "old timer" I have to throw in that I actually remember being outraged that the tuition went up over $100 per semester at UT. That was in 1972, I think, and I was a sophomore. Can you believe that I felt like my parents were getting ripped off? That was back when most people could actually afford to go to a state school. Controlling costs - in education, health care, highway building, everywhere - has to be one of the big challenges of our times.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by G Grasshopper

OK, since we are talking about tuition, as an "old timer" I have to throw in that I actually remember being outraged that the tuition went up over $100 per semester at UT. That was in 1972, I think, and I was a sophomore. Can you believe that I felt like my parents were getting ripped off? That was back when most people could actually afford to go to a state school. Controlling costs - in education, health care, highway building, everywhere - has to be one of the big challenges of our times.

I paid $4 a semester hour in 1980.
Question....other than the fact that out of staters pay more per semester hour, why does UT accept out of state applicants over in state (grades and scores being equal?) Now that the freshman class is 80% to 10%, it seems like the last 20% should be open first to Texas residents who are in, say the top 15% or so??

[maadimom]

I also paid the $4/hour back in 1980. I really wonder how much the coaches' salaries have increased percentage wise since then. Don't get me wrong. I love my Longhorn football, but Muschamp's new salary is $900,000/year. That really gets me going. Our kids are having to go into debt to get their degrees and face finding jobs that will never come close to paying that kind of money. That is if they can get into the school. I'm just saying that I think that all the universities are really showing what they really care about, and I don't think it's my son's future.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by maadimom

I also paid the $4/hour back in 1980. I really wonder how much the coaches' salaries have increased percentage wise since then. Don't get me wrong. I love my Longhorn football, but Muschamp's new salary is $900,000/year. That really gets me going. Our kids are having to go into debt to get their degrees and face finding jobs that will never come close to paying that kind of money. That is if they can get into the school. I'm just saying that I think that all the universities are really showing what they really care about, and I don't think it's my son's future.

Add to that the fact that UT has big plans to sell the Brackenrige tract (student housing, municipal golf course and kid recreation facilities) and it makes me realize that the UT administration is the greediest thing going.

[corntortilla]

Originally Posted by chickenfry

Was. you bought the plan for your kid. paid into for a set amount for a set number of years. when your child reached college age, it paid their tuition at any state school. it has been closed now for several years

It's back, or at least something similar to it:
https://www.texastuitionpromisefund....-08-173858.xml

[Trainwreck20]

I also paid the $4/hour back in 1980. I really wonder how much the coaches' salaries have increased percentage wise since then. Don't get me wrong. I love my Longhorn football, but Muschamp's new salary is $900,000/year. That really gets me going. Our kids are having to go into debt to get their degrees and face finding jobs that will never come close to paying that kind of money. That is if they can get into the school. I'm just saying that I think that all the universities are really showing what they really care about, and I don't think it's my son's future.

Actually, the UT athletics program is one of a very few that is self sufficient. There was a good article in Texas Monthly recently, and the athletics program actually funded $8 million last year for the academic 'side' of the school.

Add to that the fact that UT has big plans to sell the Brackenrige tract (student housing, municipal golf course and kid recreation facilities) and it makes me realize that the UT administration is the greediest thing going.

But why should the school be in the business of running businesses? This is a money sink (or at least, a minimal return), and tuition and fees are paying for it. I don't know why a university should be responsible for funding a public golf course. Now, I admit, it is nice, but it is hard to complain about the cost of school and then say that they should use their money in such a manner.

[neutrino]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Add to that the fact that UT has big plans to sell the Brackenrige tract (student housing, municipal golf course and kid recreation facilities) and it makes me realize that the UT administration is the greediest thing going.

IIRC, that tract also contains the Brackenridge Field Lab where UT does much of its ecology research (as well as providing a great learning resource for students). It would be a shame to lose this resource.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

But why should the school be in the business of running businesses? This is a money sink (or at least, a minimal return), and tuition and fees are paying for it. I don't know why a university should be responsible for funding a public golf course. Now, I admit, it is nice, but it is hard to complain about the cost of school and then say that they should use their money in such a manner.

Well, it's not like they're going to sell the land and take the money to fund programs. They're planning to develop the land for a higher return.

I think that the preent use of dorms is in the best interest of the students. The golf course/WAYA returns a modest amount to UT but I think it's importance lies on good citizenship to the city of Austin.