Other Operating Expenses (OOE)
"At Washburn University, Learning For A Lifetime is more than a motto... it's a call to action... Washburn's success is based on the highest standards for faculty..."
Washburn University web site
Continuing Education
Having attracted the most qualified faculty and staff, what investment does Washburn University make to keep the faculty and staff highly qualified in this constantly changing world?
Most professions recognize the importance of continuing education and require a minimum number of hours of professional development on an annual basis. In addition to conference and seminar attendance, most professionals also subscribe to special journals that are relevant to their profession. Funds for these expenditures should appear in the Other Operating Expenses of the operating budget. As faculty members are added, the budget for these expenditures should increase.
In Washburn University's 1998 North Central Accreditation Self-Study Report, the following appeared:
"There is a perceived insufficiency of funds for faculty attendance at professional meetings for the purpose of presenting papers and, although funds are being made available for research, minimum released time is available for research work."
Disparate treatment?
How does the University support the "highest standards for faculty"? It appears that faculty are granted travel funds upon request, but these awarded funds seem insufficient for serious development. For example, funds between $125 and $300 are provided to attend a conference, with funds ranging from $500 to $800 if the person is giving a presentation. These funds would hardly cover the registration, airfare and lodging for many conferences of any national significance. On the other hand, there is no such restriction on travel funds for administrative development. Five administrative staff members recently attended the annual SCT Summit meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii at an average cost to the University of $2,500 per staff member. Their conference expenses were 100% reimbursed.
Operating Budget Trends
This chart shows the trend in budgeting for other operating expenses by major spending category over the past four years. The academic area covers the faculty, the other areas relate to staff. The trend continued during the FY06 budget process, with various administrative operating expense budgets increasing, while the academic operating budgets remained unchanged.
Note: School of Law expenditures were excluded because of a separate Financing Agreement with the University.
Other Inconsistencies
From 2001 to 2004, the total student headcount increased from 6,118 to 7,334 students, almost a 20% increase. Faculty and staff have also increased. In spite of the increased activity on campus, the other operating budgets for some areas have stayed flat since FY02. For example, nine academic areas have had no increase in their operating budgets. Areas that have high student contact, such as admissions, financial aid and the registrar, have also had no increase in their operating budgets. Of most concern, may be the fact that the campus police department is still operating at the same other operating expense budget level.