So, is 7% a problem?
Yes.
Now it's time to tell you why it's a problem, why this matters for JMU’s future, and why it matters for the value of your degree.
In short, this comes back to financial gifts as a check against rising tuition costs and uncertain state funding.
JMU’s operations budget is made up of two main areas:
Auxiliary (40%)
Athletics, UREC, student activities, health center, dining services, residence life, parking
(Funded by: student fees, ticket sales, meal plans, room and board, parking passes, grants, private support)
E&G (60%)
Professors, academic support, research, student financial aid
(Funded by: state government, tuition, grants, private funding)
Focusing on the four areas we use to fund the E&G area, JMU experienced a sharp decline in the percentage of the budget covered by state funds from 2001 to 2011, from 46% of the budget down to 29%.
With state funds out of our control, the difference must be made up between the three other areas:
Tuition
Research & Grants
Private fundraising
Private fundraising continues to struggle. As a result, tuition has shouldered the load.
Tuition now accounts for 58% of JMU’s budget (compared to 37% a decade ago).
This is primarily due to private fundraising not emerging as a viable fund source for the university.
