The Bowdoin Orient

March 2, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 18

Trustees to vote on College budget

by KITTY SULLIVAN, STAFF WRITER

   This coming Friday, Bowdoin's trustees will be convening at the Blackpoint Inn in Prouts Neck, Maine, located south of Portland, to review and approve a budget prepared by faculty and staff.
   Approximately 45 trustees, many of them alumni or parents of alumni, meet three times a year to analyze and study how Bowdoin's money is being spent, as well as to make decisions regarding general College policy.
   One of the items included in the budget is the tuition and fee increase of five percent. While many students often express exasperation regarding such a hike, it is a standard measure that all colleges take to curb the effects of inflation. The majority of the additional revenue is allocated to salaries that rise by about two percent a year and is also used to prevent depreciation by inflation.
   In addition, financial aid is rising faster than tuition. According to Kent Chabotar, vice president for finance and administration and treasurer, "For every one dollar received in student fees and tuition, 27 cents goes to financial aid." This ratio, however, is rising, partially due to Bowdoin's efforts to attract students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
   In terms of how tuition at Bowdoin stacks up against the competition, the College is "dead center" in a representative group of 18 small liberal arts colleges. Chabotar noted that "between the most expensive college and least expensive in the 18 college group, there is only a $1600 difference in tuition."
   Another issue presented in the budget is the adjustments that must be made for skyrocketing heating and utility costs. The College has not been hit too hard by the dramatic increase in the past year because its policy has been to buy one year or two year contracts that locks it in to a reasonable price.
   Bowdoin also affiliates itself with a collaboration of other non-profit organizations, such as hospitals and other educational institutions, to obtain a lower price.
   Chabotar explained, "It's like 30 customers in a supermarket buying together getting more attention than one customer buying alone."
   He also commented upon the rising use of power on campus, attributing two of the major factors to student use and lack of energy conservation. The campus has also been expanding, so an increase in volume as well as in price of electricity also contributes to the higher utility fees.
   Chabotar said that "the College received authorization to hire a 'coordinator for a sustainable Bowdoin' who will help Bowdoin implement better energy conservation and recycling programs."
   Also to be approved in the budget is permission to hire 2.7 more faculty members, which would be a combination of 2 full time faculty members and one part time worker. With this addition, the faculty student ratio would drop below the 10:1 goal.
   The budget is prepared by a budget committee consisting of faculty, staff, and students and then written by Chabotar. It is then recommended to the president and sent to the trustees. Once it reaches the trustees, it first goes to the Financial Planning Committee, then to the Executive Committee, and is finally voted on by the entire Board of Trustees.