Topic: Marshall board approves ‘placeholder’ budget

[Flat Tire 2]

Another free viewing form the H-D.

"The Marshall University Board of Governors on Thursday approved a fiscal year 2021 budget with the intent of amending the budget in the fall.

The board approved spending under the new budget for the first quarter of the year. The $113.5 million budget is a reduction of $13 million over last year and uses $10 million of the university’s reserves."

https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/marshall-board-approves-placeholder-budget/article_a41fe92d-56f3-506c-8513-30a249565d36.html

[Flat Tire 2]

I think the below comment is very concerning, you can't start deficit spending IMHO.

"Patrick Farrell, board member and new board chairman come July, said he was concerned about the university using its reserve funds to balance the budget, noting the university used reserves last year when there wasn’t a pandemic.

“We should be overreacting to protect the balance sheet and reserves,” Farrell said during the finance committee meeting. “While we all hope for the best, the university is long overdue to make some tough decisions and make some cuts. I support Dr. Gilbert and this budget, but when we consider this in September, we need to think about that."

[bighat]

We have a pandemic and using the reserves is a logical thing to do if only for a short time.

[pembrook burrows III]

Depends on how big the reserves are.

[Flat Tire 2]

I would guess the "reserves" came from the MU endowment? The endowment is already very small for a school like MU.

[Taft#1]

I think MU is in more financial trouble than what we realize . They were dipping into the reserves last year ? There needs to be some questions asked thats for sure .

[coalherd]

A lot has to do with student recruitment where MU continues to lag.  Yes, enrollments are falling  in a lot of places across the country, but MU appears to go about the task with a business as usual approach. 

I note that the Charleston Gazette, the State's largest newspaper, had a recent supplement section all about the high school graduations in the Kanawha Valley and surrounding counties.  Several colleges/universities had spots, ads if you will, throughout the section.  University of Charleston and a couple of other state schools.  Morehead State, out of Kentucky, had a FULL Page layout.  Marshall?  Zero, Zilch, Nada!  If MU can't do a better job in student outreach within the State, how can it expect to lure or draw MORE STUDENTS from other States??  People have commented consistently how schools in nearby Ohio, Shawnee State, Ohio U., main and branch campuses, seem to be more active in recruiting efforts in the Huntington-Tri State region than Marshall.  No doubt explains why enrollment remains stagnant, or falling, going on a second decade at MU!!

[Taft#1]

I have a son and daughter right across the river from Huntington , when they were in HS , they didnt get one letter about MU , not one , and they are very good students ( ended up going to Ohio State ) . MU seems to be ran like Huntington is , still thinking its the 40's or 50's and all is well , nothing ever changes here and its costing the school and town big time.

[ArizonaHerd]

A lot has to do with student recruitment where MU continues to lag.  Yes, enrollments are falling  in a lot of places across the country, but MU appears to go about the task with a business as usual approach. 

I note that the Charleston Gazette, the State's largest newspaper, had a recent supplement section all about the high school graduations in the Kanawha Valley and surrounding counties.  Several colleges/universities had spots, ads if you will, throughout the section.  University of Charleston and a couple of other state schools.  Morehead State, out of Kentucky, had a FULL Page layout.  Marshall?  Zero, Zilch, Nada!  If MU can't do a better job in student outreach within the State, how can it expect to lure or draw MORE STUDENT from other States??  People have commented consistently how schools in nearby Ohio, Shawnee State, Ohio U., main and branch campuses, seem to be more active in recruiting efforts in the Huntington-Tri State region than Marshall.  No doubt explains why enrollment remains stagnant, or falling, going on a second decade at MU!!

Yep, all those high school kids reading the newspaper these days, Marshall missed a huge opportunity  8)

https://mobile.twitter.com/WOWKosik/status/1276295370549669888

[coalherd]

Yep, all those high school kids reading the newspaper these days, Marshall missed a huge opportunity  8)

https://mobile.twitter.com/WOWKosik/status/1276295370549669888

One thing that would probably have drawn them to a newspaper, AH, would be the coverage of their OWN high school graduations!.  Them and their PARENTS who, in many cases, will be paying for, at least in part, their post HS educations!!  ;D

[MarshallSteve]

A lot has to do with student recruitment where MU continues to lag.  Yes, enrollments are falling  in a lot of places across the country, but MU appears to go about the task with a business as usual approach. 

I note that the Charleston Gazette, the State's largest newspaper, had a recent supplement section all about the high school graduations in the Kanawha Valley and surrounding counties.  Several colleges/universities had spots, ads if you will, throughout the section.  University of Charleston and a couple of other state schools.  Morehead State, out of Kentucky, had a FULL Page layout.  Marshall?  Zero, Zilch, Nada!  If MU can't do a better job in student outreach within the State, how can it expect to lure or draw MORE STUDENTS from other States??  People have commented consistently how schools in nearby Ohio, Shawnee State, Ohio U., main and branch campuses, seem to be more active in recruiting efforts in the Huntington-Tri State region than Marshall.  No doubt explains why enrollment remains stagnant, or falling, going on a second decade at MU!!

100% Agree.

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[MarshallSteve]

I have a son and daughter right across the river from Huntington , when they were in HS , they didnt get one letter about MU , not one , and they are very good students ( ended up going to Ohio State ) . MU seems to be ran like Huntington is , still thinking its the 40's or 50's and all is well , nothing ever changes here and its costing the school and town big time.

This has been a problem for a long time and there is nobody to blame but the people that have been in charge at Marshall the last 20+ years.

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[svherd]

I have a son and daughter right across the river from Huntington , when they were in HS , they didnt get one letter about MU , not one , and they are very good students ( ended up going to Ohio State ) . MU seems to be ran like Huntington is , still thinking its the 40's or 50's and all is well , nothing ever changes here and its costing the school and town big time.

The only thing changing about Huntington is we have more recovery houses per capita than any city in the country. A fact our leaders seem to take great delight in. Rather than fixing the issue.

[svherd]

Yep, all those high school kids reading the newspaper these days, Marshall missed a huge opportunity  8)

https://mobile.twitter.com/WOWKosik/status/1276295370549669888

Yeah, mom and dad, the grandparents don't save newspaper clippings about major events in their kids lives.

The grad edition is always well read.  It's a great PR opportunity. But with Marshall burgeoning enrollment figures, I see your point. LOL!

[ArizonaHerd]

One thing that would probably have drawn them to a newspaper, AH, would be the coverage of their OWN high school graduations!.  Them and their PARENTS who, in many cases, will be paying for, at least in part, their post HS educations!!  ;D

Maybe you missed the tweet from WOWK’s Haley Kosik, but roughly 43% of Huntington High Schools graduating class is enrolling at Marshall this fall.

https://mobile.twitter.com/WOWKosik/status/1276295370549669888

Shows that the admissions department is doing something right in the tri-state area. But I’m sure you have thoughts and anecdotal evidence proving otherwise...

[svherd]

Maybe you missed the tweet from WOWK’s Haley Kosik, but roughly 43% of Huntington High Schools graduating class is enrolling at Marshall this fall.

https://mobile.twitter.com/WOWKosik/status/1276295370549669888

Shows that the admissions department is doing something right in the tri-state area. But I’m sure you have thoughts and anecdotal evidence proving otherwise...

Wow! Only 43% going to MU, that's not great for the home town school. But those stagnant enrollment numbers tell a story.

[ed swain]

Marshall should recruit grandkids of older alumni who live in other states.Let them come to Marshall for the tuition they charge for in state students.This is one way to get enrollment up.

[elginherd]

Marshall should recruit grandkids of older alumni who live in other states.Let them come to Marshall for the tuition they charge for in state students.This is one way to get enrollment up.

Although I don't know off-hand what the downsides to this scheme would/could be, it seems to me on the face of it that your idea would be an excellent idea to run up the flagpole to Dr. Gilbert, the BOG, the mayor, the legislative leaders & the governor. Beyond increasing enrollment, it should become a tool to recruit people to stay in the state & region. 

[TeaysValleyThunder]

Marshall should recruit grandkids of older alumni who live in other states.Let them come to Marshall for the tuition they charge for in state students.This is one way to get enrollment up.

Marshall already has a legacy program in place. My granddaughter, who lives in NY, actually was considering attending MU because of their strong business program and the instate tuition. 

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[goherd50]

Wow! Only 43% going to MU, that's not great for the home town school. But those stagnant enrollment numbers tell a story.

What percentage of HHS grads go to college?  I would like to see the % of college going seniors that MU gets.