The growing number of administrators on campus warns that Tufts may be moving towards a structure top-heavy from too many bureaucrats. How many administrators does Tufts need and how much of the students' tuition fees are being spent to finance them?
The U.S. Labor Bureau credits the growth of administrations nationwide to the rise in the number of students attending college. But this argument does not work at Tufts. In 1984 there were 4,993 undergraduate students, compared to 4,837 undergraduates last year. Yet, in that time period the number of administrators has risen 104 percent, from 305 to 623. What necessitated the size of administrators to double in the past 20 years?
Ironically, there was an attempt to streamline the administration when President Larry Bacow came to Tufts in 2001. The Office of Vice-President for Arts and Sciences was eliminated in an attempt to free up more resources to increase faculty salaries. Sol Gittleman, Provost at the time, said the efforts were to attract more top faculty to the University with the prospect of higher wages. This attempt to shift the focus back to faculty failed.
Turnover for top administrators has been high in the past few years at Tufts. The Director of Admissions, Dean of the Colleges, Dean of Arts & Sciences, Dean of Engineering, Provost and President positions have all changed hands in just the past four years. But the bulk of growth lies in the administration's middle, in clerical and technical workers. This only creates more red tape and hassles for students, instead of making our four years on the hill smoother. The turnover, and growth, of these positions is not as high-profile as the executive posts. These middle and lower administrative roles have been able to balloon without much notice taken.
Executive Director of Institutional Research Dawn Terkla does not adequately explain why the University needs more of these administrators. She says the growth was for justified reasons, but does not spell out what these reasons are. Instead, she focuses on the integrity of the Tufts staff and their dedication to helping students. The sincerity of administrative employees is not being called into question, but their necessity is.
Greater demand and high turnover in comparison to faculty allow administrators to command higher salaries, according to the Feb. 6 Chronicle of Higher Education. The proliferation of administrators at Tufts is likely putting a strain on the budget, preventing the University from hiring more faculty members. Figures of administrator's salaries should be made more readily available so their effects on the budget can be more understood.
Twenty years ago, there was more faculty than staff. Now the situation has reversed. Tufts is in danger of becoming an office satire with too many administrators and not enough people to administrate. If this trend continues, a candid justification must be given to the administrative growth. Tufts should cut down on the number of administrators so that more money can be spent on faculty salaries, as was in intended in 2001.
