Becas en tiempo de crisis

Hay dos formas de luchar contra una crisis, desde el punto de vista de una Universidad: una, tratar de recortar costes; otra, tratar de aumentar los ingresos. Aunque evidentemente hay que hacer siempre algo de lo primero, yo creo que la estrategia verdaderamente sostenible es la segunda, aunque para eso haya que incurrir en algunos costes. Prueba de ello es lo que está pasando con las becas en las universidades americanas: si quieres sobrevivir, necesitas a los mejores alumnos, y para ello tienes que ayudarles económicamente. Por supuesto, como decía antes, eso no quiere decir que no haya que recortar costes, simplemente que hay algunos costes que no se pueden tocar si quieres mantener o aumentar tus ingresos:

Northwestern University announced this week that it would require all departments to reduce their operating expenses by 5 percent, while financial aid is increased by 10 percent.

…

The most selective colleges are also increasing or protecting financial aid: Cornell, Princeton and Vanderbilt, among others, have announced in recent weeks that they will continue plans to replace loans with grants, even as they suspend hiring searches and cut back on capital projects.

But the issue is most pressing for the smallest and less-selective schools.

“Our biggest concern is losing students,” said Tony Aretz, president of the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati. “You have to cut your costs, and then you’re in a death spiral — students don’t want to come to you because they sense you’re on the rocks.”