In the recent debate between Grand Valley State University and mainstream media over the university’s administrative budget, there have been faults on both sides.

First of all, the media took some of the numbers they presented out of proportion. Yes, the university’s adminstrative budget ranks sixth in the state with more than $48 million spent on administrative staff, but it isn’t as if a select group of individuals at the top of the ladder are inflating their own salaries. President Thomas J. Haas personally makes $279,409 each year, which is only eighth among presidents of public universities in the state. The rest of the money is disbursed among 70 other members of the administrative staff.

Another public concern was the growth over a five-year period in the administrative budget, which is the highest in the state at 48.4 percent. But consider that GVSU also has the highest-growing student body in the state over the past decade, and a larger student population (raised in spite of having the lowest state aid per student in Michigan) will inherently demand a larger administrative budget. GVSU administration has been a vital component in the university’s success, and the individuals in place, namely Haas, who personally went to Lansing in order to lobby for more state dollars to go toward helping students at GVSU, have proven to students that they are willing to do what it takes to put the GVSU brand among the most elite universities that Michigan has to offer.

The only problem with the administrative budget is that it has grown while other areas have been forced to decrease. Faculty at GVSU have willingly taken pay freezes that will keep their salaries at the same rate for next school year as well as been forced to shell out more money for health care. Academic departments have been told to do more with less, leaving faculty positions unfilled due to restricted budgets. Administration has also recently lowered block tuition rates from 12 to 16 credits to 12 to 15 credits, a move that could provide the university with an estimated $3 million boost while potentially restricting the number of credits a student can take without going over their financial limits.

The current university administrative budget has not been as inflated as some may have you think, but administrators can afford to trim some of the fat if they want to show that everyone will need to cut back if the university is to thrive.