University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 30, May 8


           Seven-year analysis shows academic budget growth
                                   
     Since fiscal year 1990, funds allocated for academic
units have grown by 45 percent (5.5 percent annually), while
administrative units grew by 16 percent (2.15 percent
annually), according to a seven-year analysis completed
recently by UD's Budget Office.
     The growth of academic budgets included a dramatic
increase in student financial aid, which jumped by 213
percent between 1990 and 1997, Budget Director Carol Rylee
reported. Moreover, she said, academic salaries have
increased, and the growth in funds allocated to academic
units would be even greater except for the fact that fringe
benefits-a category that increased by 53 percent over the
seven-year period-are not budgeted to the academic units.
     "These figures are consistent with our ongoing efforts
to improve compensation, reduce overhead, increase
scholarships and improve the living and learning
environments," President David P. Roselle said.
     Academic budgets have grown more than two times faster
than state appropriations, which increased by 20.6 percent
between 1990 and 1997. "Increasingly," said Executive Vice
President David E. Hollowell, "we are leveraging private
support to make the most of University and state funds, and
we are constantly looking for ways to create administrative
efficiencies that can generate funds for reallocation to
academic programs."
     The recent budget analysis provides clear evidence of
administrators' intent to support teaching as well as
research and community service by faculty members, Provost
Mel Schiavelli said. "The growing number of named
professorships and student scholarships, plus budget
increases for library materials, are just a few of the
benefits resulting from the increase in academic budgets,"
he added.
     "In a larger sense, these increases symbolize the
administration's commitment to support faculty and promote a
stimulating environment that is conducive to new ideas and
productive dialogue," Schiavelli said.