From the Editor

This issue of the newsletter comes to you electronically. There is no printed version - unless you choose to download your own. One of the advantages is that we can get it to you quicker - no need for printer’s proofs, no snail mail delay. On the other hand, it’s not clear the extent the whole newsletter is read versus a printed version. At least this year, going to an electronic issue was the plan. Last year, we suddenly went “electronic” when it became necessary to shift the annual meeting from Toronto to Baltimore due to the SARS scare, all of which happened after the Spring edition had already been printed but fortunately not mailed.

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At the end of August, the Chronicle of Higher Education published its annual Almanac Issue for 2004 - 5. I always find it interesting and though I would share some of the significant items from it that pertains to the Eastern Association of College and University Business Officers.

In the thirteen states plus the District of Columbia - from Maine to Virginia - that make up the principal geographic portion of the Eastern Association, there are 916 colleges and universities (excluding for-profit). (2002-2003 data) Of this number, well over half are private - 556 private versus 360 public. Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts have an overwhelming portion that are private. In fact, Massachusetts has 83 private institutions out 114 total with enrollment of 238,000 in those schools and 186,000 in public institutions. However, in terms of enrollment (2001 data) in the entire EACUBO area, about 60 percent attend public institutions.

Of the top 50 in the country with the largest enrollments, only six are in our territory and only one of which - NYU - is private. At the same time, half of the top 50 with the largest endowments are part of the EACUBO roster.

So what, you ask?? What dominates the Eastern Association is the large number of private colleges whereas in the other three regions, it is the large publics that predominate. It does explain why some of our members, representing private institutions, come from Ohio - or the Carolinas, as examples.

Maybe nobody cares and maybe it indicates I have too much time for trivia - but thought some of you might be interested.