Mel Ladousier: Hold university system accountable for their ‘product’ and investments

Re “Speaking up for all CSUs” (Our View, Jan. 12): Has anyone looked into the fiscal responsibility end of higher-education spending? Our local government employees have been obliged to take pay and benefit cuts to balance budgets. Our state government employees have been forced to take furlough days to balance departmental budgets. Our college graduates are faced with extreme difficulty finding work in their fields and are saddled with staggering educational debt.

Ever hear of the old military saying “getting the most bang for the buck”? I believe it is time to rein in the universities’ spending by conducting value-added per dollar spent studies. Money added must be equal to or less than the product out. Further, college debt should not exceed the annual gross income of a graduate’s expected annual income for the first five years of employment in the graduate’s profession. Businesses generally demand payback on investment in capitol improvements within five years in making investment decisions. Something is radically wrong when the University of California or California State University systems can hold students hostage in demanding funding from the state. These entities must be held accountable.

This story was originally published January 13, 2015 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Mel Ladousier: Hold university system accountable for their ‘product’ and investments."