WSJ Article: America’s College Towns Go From Boom to Bust

[ttowncoug]

This is about as clear of an argument as to why you need to invest in athletics. For WSU is means, University subsidies in a meaningful way to be competitive.

"Large flagship universities—blessed with strong academic reputations and high-profile sports programs—continue to boost local economies. In such cities as Ann Arbor, Mich., University of Michigan, Madison, Wis., University of Wisconsin, and Gainesville, Fla., University of Florida, students fill dorms, restaurants and bars.

A Wall Street Journal analysis of 748 public four-year colleges and universities in all 50 states shows that full- and part-time enrollment at the most prominent state universities increased 9% in 2023 compared with 2015. At lesser-known regional state universities, enrollment fell 2%. The shift represents tens of thousands of students who have abandoned struggling college towns.

At the University of Tennessee Knoxville, the state’s flagship school, enrollment jumped 30% in 2023 compared with 2015. Enrollment at Tennessee’s 10 regional state colleges fell a combined 3% over the same period. In Wisconsin, enrollment at the University of Wisconsin in Madison jumped 16% and fell 9% at regional public campuses over the same period. Between 2011 and 2023, the economies of the metropolitan areas that include Madison and Knoxville grew faster than the U.S. as a whole."

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/college-towns-economy-macomb-illinois-aae84dcc?mod=hp_lead_pos8

 

[95coug]

Not likely. The legislature is already in the process of giving WSU 6% less than what was requested for their operating budget. And, even if Olympia fully funded WSU's ask...funds provided through the state budgeting process can't be used for athletics. Nobody wants their tax or tuition dollars going to sports, so the only viable funding avenue is donations...and we all know how that works at WSU.

 

[dgibbons]

Not likely. The legislature is already in the process of giving WSU 6% less than what was requested for their operating budget. And, even if Olympia fully funded WSU's ask...funds provided through the state budgeting process can't be used for athletics. Nobody wants their tax or tuition dollars going to sports, so the only viable funding avenue is donations...and we all know how that works at WSU.

I'm OK with it. It happens(ed) indirectly anyway by utilizing cash reserves for athletics.

 

[ttowncoug]

Not likely. The legislature is already in the process of giving WSU 6% less than what was requested for their operating budget. And, even if Olympia fully funded WSU's ask...funds provided through the state budgeting process can't be used for athletics. Nobody wants their tax or tuition dollars going to sports, so the only viable funding avenue is donations...and we all know how that works at WSU.

I think the mechanism is WSU/the State agree to fund a certain amount of athletic scholarships annually for WSU Athletics. Maybe it's Women's Sports. Further, maybe it's scholarships for "in-state" women's sports athletes. Their a a politically acceptable (DEI) solution here. McCoy needs to take a leadership position here and use your lobbyists to see if the legislature will allow for a workable solution to help us out. It certainly feels we are void of ambition and void of leadership in Pullman, all things athletics related.

 

[95coug]

I think the mechanism is WSU/the State agree to fund a certain amount of athletic scholarships annually for WSU Athletics. Maybe it's Women's Sports. Further, maybe it's scholarships for "in-state" women's sports athletes. Their a a politically acceptable (DEI) solution here. McCoy needs to take a leadership position here and use your lobbyists to see if the legislature will allow for a workable solution to help us out. It certainly feels we are void of ambition and void of leadership in Pullman, all things athletics related.

That's going to be an easy answer from the legislature. "We're $12B short, we're looking at cuts to basic education programs, you're losing research grants and probably losing early outreach programs, and you're raising tuition...but you want us to allocate tax dollars to fund a handful of students who can chase a ball around? Sorry, Madame president...I'd rather get re-elected."

 

[ttowncoug]

That's going to be an easy answer from the legislature. "We're $12B short, we're looking at cuts to basic education programs, you're losing research grants and probably losing early outreach programs, and you're raising tuition...but you want us to allocate tax dollars to fund a handful of students who can chase a ball around? Sorry, Madame president...I'd rather get re-elected."

The state just passed a budget with $9B in new taxes. However it's packaged, and whatever the mechanism is, we know that athletic programs and the student experience with athletics drives enrollment. That is/was a part of the experience that I suspect many of us enjoyed during our Pullman years and was, at least for me, a reason to why I wanted to go to WSU.

So if quality athletics is apart of the culture, and student experience, I believe it's about of WSU Pullman's "core" and it needs to be funded as such.

The fact we are in this position is because another state school, UW, screwed us. Our problem, created by another state school, needs to fixed by the state....and maybe it's telling UW, get WSU into the Big-10 or the Big-12. Or telling UW, go back into the Pac-12.

Rolling over and doing nothing isn't going to help.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

That's going to be an easy answer from the legislature. "We're $12B short, we're looking at cuts to basic education programs, you're losing research grants and probably losing early outreach programs, and you're raising tuition...but you want us to allocate tax dollars to fund a handful of students who can chase a ball around? Sorry, Madame president...I'd rather get re-elected."

There is nothing short of calling for a new holocaust that could get the loons in west side politics out of office, and even that might not move the needle. Also, they didn't have any issue opening the checkbook for the UW stadium from tax dollars, but we know how that story goes.

 

[dgibbons]

That's going to be an easy answer from the legislature. "We're $12B short, we're looking at cuts to basic education programs, you're losing research grants and probably losing early outreach programs, and you're raising tuition...but you want us to allocate tax dollars to fund a handful of students who can chase a ball around? Sorry, Madame president...I'd rather get re-elected."

The politics are easy and predictable. But, the Legislature hasn't followed through on any threats of budget cuts based on Athletics continuing to run a deficit as far as I know. The practical reality is WSU has been subsidizing Athletics for a long time and will have to continue doing so for WSU to avoid becoming the Nevada of the new Pac. And of course the state was fine with uw helping kill the Pac-12 and a big chunk of WSU Athletics' revenue disappearing.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

The politics are easy and predictable. But, the Legislature hasn't followed through on any threats of budget cuts based on Athletics continuing to run a deficit as far as I know. The practical reality is WSU has been subsidizing Athletics for a long time and will have to continue doing so for WSU to avoid becoming the Nevada of the new Pac. And of course the state was fine with uw helping kill the Pac-12 and a big chunk of WSU Athletics' revenue disappearing.

Just for argument's sake, I saw charts on another board that show that OSU subsidizes Athletics for a couple million more than WSU. Student fees for Athletics are about 3X WSU's. And of course ticket revenues and donations put WSU to shame. Just saying.......

Oh and the other board discovered WW and are having fun ridiculing many of our posters. Of course they revere the Mighty Loyal One. . I invited them to register and join the fun but they just laughed.

 

[95coug]

Just for argument's sake, I saw charts on another board that show that OSU subsidizes Athletics for a couple million more than WSU. Student fees for Athletics are about 3X WSU's. And of course ticket revenues and donations put WSU to shame. Just saying.......

Oh and the other board discovered WW and are having fun ridiculing many of our posters. Of course they revere the Mighty Loyal One. . I invited them to register and join the fun but they just laughed.

Didn’t know the other board still had active forums. Whenever I’ve looked - and it’s been a while - there was only site-posted content, without any user response

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

Didn’t know the other board still had active forums. Whenever I’ve looked - and it’s been a while - there was only site-posted content, without any user response

The pay board is active.

I won't pay to have pro WSU propaganda spewed 24/7 with no dissenting opinions allowed.

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Didn’t know the other board still had active forums. Whenever I’ve looked - and it’s been a while - there was only site-posted content, without any user response

I wasn't talking about the Brand X or any WSU board. I was referring to the WCS (West Coast Sports) board.

 

[BiggsCoug]

The state just passed a budget with $9B in new taxes. However it's packaged, and whatever the mechanism is, we know that athletic programs and the student experience with athletics drives enrollment. That is/was a part of the experience that I suspect many of us enjoyed during our Pullman years and was, at least for me, a reason to why I wanted to go to WSU.

So if quality athletics is apart of the culture, and student experience, I believe it's about of WSU Pullman's "core" and it needs to be funded as such.

The fact we are in this position is because another state school, UW, screwed us. Our problem, created by another state school, needs to fixed by the state....and maybe it's telling UW, get WSU into the Big-10 or the Big-12. Or telling UW, go back into the Pac-12.

Rolling over and doing nothing isn't going to help.

When one state university, fcks another state university, to the tune of 9 figures in lost revenue…. it’s an issue the state needs to address. If the uw had gone about this above board and told everyone up front, fine. They didnt. What WSU needs to be a successful university could differ from other state schools. Fine. Fund the school how it needs to be funded for success. If the admin cant get it done, time to look at changing leadership at WSU.