By Ellen Chaffee
VCSU President

The headlined “great time” comes at the end, but first you need some background.
The North Dakota University System recently published “Financing Higher Education: How Does North Dakota Compare?” The report compiles data from five other sources to answer that question. Some of the highlights are:
All NDUS campuses are funded less than their peer institutions for 2007-09, ranging from 47 percent to 88 percent.  If Valley City State University were funded like 15 similar universities, we would have over $1 million more per year.
Also, students continue to pick up a larger share of the cost of education when compared to the NDUS Long-Term Finance Plan targets.  
The North Dakota University System is among the top five performers relative to the level of funding, where performance is measured by instructional service levels, undergraduate and doctoral degree productivity, competitive research, and student pipeline results.
Although North Dakota high school graduation rates continue to decline, the number of students who attend public colleges in North Dakota continues to increase. North Dakota ranks number one in the country at 56.4 FTE college students per 1,000 population, compared to the national average of 34.0.
In 2006-07, state higher education appropriations per student were $4,726. This is $2,095 less than the regional per student average and $1,992 less than the national average. In other words, North Dakota’s institutions receive about $0.70 for each dollar compared to regional and national averages.  
In 2006-07, the NDUS received about 80 percent of the national and regional averages in total budget per student from both state appropriations and tuition revenues.  
Tuition revenue in North Dakota covers almost 45 percent of the total combined state and tuition budget. Nationally and regionally, tuition revenues comprise roughly 36 percent of the total budget allocations.
A VCSU in-state undergraduate student will pay $138 per credit for tuition next year, plus fees. For a standard 30-credit academic year, tuition and fees alone will cost $5,780. This is directly in line with the other North Dakota universities, all of which are charging students for a much larger share of the cost than in past years due to constrained state funding.
A full-time student (15 class hours plus homework per week) would have to work full time (40 hours per week) for 24 weeks – nearly half the year – at minimum wage just to pay tuition and fees. On top of that, they must pay for room, board, books, personal expenses, travel, and taxes. That is, if they have time to eat, sleep, do laundry, or go home once in awhile.
Given this information, it is not surprising that our latest data (2005) found that the typical VCSU graduate owed about $18,500 in student loans. We have a world class loan repayment rate, but heaven only knows how they do it.
So for a great time and to give some students a leg up, please come to Viva Las Vikings! Our annual scholarship auction takes place this Friday evening at the Eagles, starting at 5 p.m. Famous people, great prizes and food, auction items you’ve always wanted, and the warm fuzzies that come with good deeds. See you there.