UConn Looks At Ways To Save Money

As University of Connecticut leaders start a search for a new president, they’re taking a hard look at spending and ways to save money in the future. 

UConn President Michael Hogan announced earlier this month that he is leaving the school after fewer than three years on the job.  

Jonathan Pelto has written about the university for CTNewsJunkie.com.  Speaking on WNPR’s Where We Live, Pelto says Hogan’s leadership style has reflected a growing corporatization of public higher education.

"He received a salary of $600,000 a year, the use of a private home. His contract called for getting two new cars every year. He put $500,000 into fixing up his office. Everybody expected him to stay around for awhile, and all of a sudden he bailed out on us. And some people would say, well that’s what happens in the corporate world" 

Larry McCue chairs UConn’s Board of Trustees.  He says certain expenditures caught the Board by surprise– including the costly renovations of a building called Gulley Hall.

"That was sprung on us the same way it was sprung on the general population. We shut down the construction that was going on as soon as that happened. Our building committee will be having a look at this in the month of June. We want to find out exactly the total dollars that were spent."

The Board plans to hire outside consultants for a top to bottom review of university finances, and recommendations on how the school can operate more efficiently.

For WNPR, I'm Diane Orson.