Our university currently enrolls 2,063 students in undergraduate and graduate level programs. Truly this is a compelling topic for our independent colleges, for whom affordability and college financing are constant concerns and challenges. Clearly, the changing economy makes a college education and college degree even more important for a rapidly growing number of careers and jobs. Increasingly college degrees will be essential to people s career success and earning power in the new economy. Employment in occupations that require a bachelors degree is projected to grow nationally by 5.6 million jobs and total job openings are expected to be nearly 11 million by 2006.
College counts even more in the approaching millennium.
I will endeavor to provide an independent sector wide perspective on the topic. The primary and predominant financing option provided by independent colleges manifests itself in the form of institutionally-funded student financial aid. This aid is funded from our colleges operating budgets and revenues, from aggressive fundraising with alumni, friends and corporations, from endowment income in some instances, and from other resources. It reflects our commitment to assist our students and to remain affordable. Frankly, institutionally funded student aid, out of necessity, is one of the most rapidly growing categories in our college budgets.