<p>There is a thread in the Parents Forum about endowment woes at various colleges. One table showed the percentage change in endowments between June 2008 and June 2010. Here are the bottom eight schools on the list: </p>
<p>-31.8% Haverford College PA
-28.5% Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering MA
-27.2% Yale University CT
-26.8% Baylor College of Medicine TX
-25.7% Union College NY
-24.6% Harvard University MA
-23.9% Southern Methodist University TX
-23.7% Carnegie Mellon University PA</p>
<p>I know for certain the impact at OLIN was the removal of their free tuition policy starting with the current freshman class. They now fund half tuition- a significant change</p>
<p>CMU does not use its endowment as a significant part of their operating expenses (as do most schools). There has been no impact on the quality of education or in funding of research facilities or faculty research. My H asked that question to the CIT Dean during parents’ weekend in 2009 and was told the same - data show no change. Buildings still completed, research still top notch.<br>
Anecdote- you decide: At freshman move-in weekend this year the local unions were outside with signs noting they didn’t receive a raise this year even though tuition was increased. They had a presence outside Warner Hall Sunday 8 am to late afternoon - corner of Forbes and Morewood – at least 50 people with signs and chants – so there’s an impact I suppose.</p>