I was 6, maybe 7 when I learned what a great university was, and its name was Stanford.
Sitting in our game room playing Fish with my best friend, I heard that name. “We can become another Stanford of the west,” my father said, not to me, but to a best friend sitting at the bar.
His friend happened to be the President of the University of Arizona (U of A). He and my dad, once their lawyer, was now Majority Leader of the State Senate and filling the idea with the needed funds.
30 years later, as a State Senator myself, I looked back on their time.
The U of A went from 5,700 students to 26,500.
Growing from 1,100 faculty to 7,500, continually increasing faculty time per student (Stanford).
In their time, ballooning resource and facilities the U of A became a nationally recognized institution and were well on their way.
That was just over 50 years ago.
Last week, the U of A was passed by another 18 universities, dropping to 127th in national rankings.
Stanford’s ranking? #4.
Tis no matter, a $285,000 BONUS was awarded the U of A president for his efforts or his attendance. Not sure which.
Follow the money at your school!
Richard Kimball
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