Other Things The Governor Should Demand from the University System

O'Guvnah is now expecting a "moderate" tuition increase in the University System of Maryland.  Whoopee.  Four years too late.  But there are other things that O'Guvnah should demand from the University System of Maryland.  Here's my list.

1. Tell University of Maryland, Baltimore President Ramsey to stop the unneeded printing of full color, die-cut heavy stock color annual reports.  Specifically mention Dean Reese's abominable waste of money.  And the four-color glossy newsletters printed on tabloid size paper.  It's a ridiculous waste of money.  Ever hear of email and PDFs?
2. Tell Bob Caret to disconnect his head from his arse and start charging out of state students at Towson University the proper tuition.  His finance staff, by improperly undercharging out-of-state students less than they should, have committed fraud against the Maryland taxpayer.
3. Tell University Of Maryland, Baltimore President Ramsey to stop subsidizing student parking at the Poppleton "BioPark" garage.  They pay less than half what employees pay-- and that is subsidized 50%. So students are paying 25% the "going rate".
4. To offset the increase in tuition, why not force the hand of professors on book selection?  Stop changing text books every semester or every year.  Stop allowing different sections of the same course to use different books.  Make professors who use textbooks THEY write to give their campus a discount (or the book can't be used).
5. Raise the tuition for out-of-state and international students.  Maryland taxpayers pay for these universities and colleges.  We back the bonds issued for capital investment.  We fund the pensions of professors and staff.  There should be a massive and demonstrable difference (I am thinking at least double) between the cost of a Maryland resident and a non-resident to attend a Maryland University or College.
6. Force professors at the undergraduate schools to carry more "required" courses on their teaching schedules, so that undergraduate students don't have to spend five years at college (or extra summer semesters) just to get the required courseload completed, because there are too many students and too few sections of The Zen of Underwater Basketweaving and Political History.
7. Sports programs should be self-sustaining.  You won't have to call Debbie Yow again and tell her not to fire Ralph Friedgen unless the money to pay him off is in her budget.  Note that I said "programs", not "teams".
8. Force university departments to use the same suppliers for things like software, computers, office supplies, water, and so on.  It's amazing how many different vendors serve one building at University of Maryland, Baltimore.
9. Start prosecuting administrators and management staff that engage in fraud and theft from cash accounts and grant funds.  Ask around, and you'll find out what I am talking about.

Millions are wasted outright every year on our campuses, because they are run without the natural benefit of a profit and loss approach.  As an employee of the University System of Maryland, it burns me every time I get a silly printed newsletter that I know cost at least seventy-five cents to a dollar to produce, all to feed the egos of over-indulgent academics looking for a good stroke.