11/27/01

SURVEY FINDS MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING

AUBURN -- In a report that could have implications for all of higher education in Alabama, a new statewide survey by an Auburn University center found that most Alabamians are unaware of how much Alabama trails the region in funding for the state's largest university.

More than eight of 10 Alabamians believe that Auburn is one of the best universities in the South and nearly three out of four believe it is one of the best in the nation, according to the report -- Auburn University Image Survey 2001 -- by the AU Center for Governmental Services.

However, the survey found that only 14 percent of Alabama citizens correctly perceive that Auburn is underfunded in relation to other universities in the Southeast. A nearly equal number believe Auburn is funded better than its competition, while 43 percent think AU is funded about the same as other universities in the region. Thirty percent of respondents were undecided or did not know.

In actuality, AU ranked 19th among 21 peer institutions and was 28 percent below the regional peer average for appropriations per fulltime equivalent student in 1999-2000, according to data from the Southern Regional Education Board.

The survey found nearly 93 percent recognize that AU significantly affects the quality of life in the state. That compares to 86 percent who rated Auburn seven or higher on a 1-10 scale for the same question in a 1999 survey. More than three-fourths in the current survey said they consider AU important to the quality of life in their community. There was no comparable question in the earlier survey. Approximately 94 percent of respondents say they believe that AU is important in creating jobs in Alabama, and 84 percent say they believe Auburn research is important in attracting and keeping jobs in their local community. Ninety-four percent say they believe that funds spent on the university by the state are a good investment. Almost 90 percent believe that the quality of higher education in Alabama affects them personally, and 60 percent feel that they are strongly impacted by the quality of higher education in the state.

Eighty-three percent said they think Auburn graduates play an important role in their community and only 5 percent said they do not know what role AU grads play in the community.

The random survey was conducted by telephone in July by the center under a contract with the Office of University Relations and the Office of the Vice President for Outreach.

The results are based on responses from 539 interviews by telephone statewide. CGS researchers found that the makeup of the sample was consistent with the state's demographic profile, with results that would be statistically accurate within plus or minus 4 percent when applied to the state's population.

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nov01: AU-survey01

CONTACT: Jim Seroka, director, Center for Governmental Services, 334/844-4781, or David Wilson, vice president for Outreach, 334/844-5700.