Universities

This study addresses issues related to three university funding matters: policy initiatives or decisions packages, tuition and fees, and funding for student enrollment growth. We found that although decision packages expenditures can be tracked only to a limited degree, universities are spending the full dollar amount appropriated for programs related to decision packages, plus additional monies. We also found that while it was not possible to determine the specific expenditures that were funded from tuition and fees, more than half of the expenditures of unrestricted monies were for instruction and academic support. Finally, we found that the actual amounts the Legislature appropriated for student enrollment growth funding, while generally following changes in student population, have been less than the amounts dictated by the formula used to calculate the funding needed.

This report addresses issues related to auxiliary enterprises at the three state universities. Auxiliary enterprises represent a very wide variety of activities and services, including bookstores, student housing, intercollegiate athletics, and parking services. The report presents two findings. First, it notes that changes may be needed if the universities are to successfully review services for possible privatization, as they have been required to do by a 1996 legislative mandate. Studies performed to date, as well as best practices cited in literature, suggest that the universities may need to collect more performance, service, and financial information to enable them to conduct systematic privatization reviews. Second, the report recommends several ways that the universities could improve the way they operate their auxiliary enterprises. We recommend that universities: 1) actively encourage and pursue partnership opportunities to operate their auxiliary enterprise on campus; and 2) develop and implement standardization policies for purchasing commonly used supplies and equipment, as ASU currently does. We also recommend that the Board of Regents develop guidelines for each auxiliary and internal...

The report addresses issues relating to the universities and the Arizona Board of Regents’ efforts to manage enrollment at Arizona’s universities. First, we found that Arizona’s universities and the Board of Regents need to develop enrollment forecasts to predict future enrollment growth at the universities. Although several forecasts have been developed in the past, they have tended to overestimate enrollment. Additionally, the universities need to revise the existing plan used to manage future enrollment growth. The plan identified several strategies for managing university growth, including expanding the universities’ evening and weekend programs, distance learning programs, partnerships with community colleges, and establishing two new branch campuses. While the universities have experienced success enrolling students in most of the main campus alternatives, they have had difficulties attracting students to the branch campuses. The universities should revisit the current plan and make modifications as necessary. Additionally, the universities and the Board of Regents should initiate a statewide master plan to help the State meet future enrollment growth.

Further, more can be done to increase enrollment...