College wasteful spending - UH paying Schwarzenegger $40,000 for commencement speech (Houston: sales, 2015)

[Dopo]

Why does any university need to pay a celebrity 1000s of dollars to give a speech that any alumni that was successful could give?


UH to pay Schwarzenegger $40,000 for commencement speech

The University of Houston is paying Arnold Schwarzenegger $40,000 to deliver the spring commencement address at TDECU Stadium.
The former California governor will stay in a king-sized room at a first-class hotel and will receive round-trip ground limousine and first-class round-trip airfare on UH’s dime, too, according to a contract obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Those costs were not immediately available.
Schwarzenegger will give a 25-minute address to UH graduates and their families and will receive an honorary degree at the May 12 event. He is permitted by contract to hold political fundraisers in Houston but cannot speak at a separate live, in-person public ticketed event in a 25-mile radius of UH between now and the ceremony.
The salary is a bargain compared to actor Matthew McConaughey’s $135,000 gig in 2015, the first time UH held a university-wide graduation ceremony. McConaughey donated $130,000 of the fee to the Just Keep Livin Foundation.

[PinkLadyK]

Eh, they want to make a show of it. A no-name alum doesn't get them a headline. I'm cool with it.

But, I do think it's kinda crappy of the Terminator. Is he really even going to notice that $40K? Seems like he would do it for free as part of his celebrity/political/charity/outreach efforts. Ditto for Mr. Wooderson.

[Failed Engineer]

I don't know what the data suggests, but I've heard that part of the draw of getting notable commencement speakers is an increase in incoming freshman applications. If it does result in that, it's well worth the money, especially for an ascending school like UH, where there is a strong corollary between applications and student performance in school and professionally.

It's an investment in the brand, and I wouldn't consider it wasteful at all.

However, I'm not an alumni, so it would be interesting to hear the take of some.

[detachable arm]

From Bun B to Arnold, UH really has stepped up their game. I bet UH will overtake Rice and then Stanford in rankings before long.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by detachable arm

From Bun B to Arnold, UH really has stepped up their game. I bet UH will overtake Rice and then Stanford in rankings before long.

Are you practising your stand up?

[Dopo]

You think $40,000 for a little publicity is worthy?
Man, we are sure going the wrong way

If they want publicity, they should have paid that money to Caitlyn Jenner
They would have got publicity for years

[Texas Ag 93]

If you want to make an omelet, you gotta break some eggs. It can be looked at as an investment. More people come to graduation that would otherwise have attended, those individuals feel an espirit de corps to the University, and in turn, donate more money to the alumni foundation etc.

Very often, these payments can be made without the use of student or general fees whatsoever. Investment income from endowments, donations from fundraising efforts specific to an event, ticket sales for a speech can all be revenue generators to cover costs.

[RedOrDead_YNWA]

I'm a UH alum, don't see any issue with it, as other's have said, things like this help to raise the profile of the school and compared to what Mr. Alright Alright Alright got, it seems like a bargain.

[radiolibre99]

Yes, it's great. What's the big deal? UH is coming up. Let's hope it continues it's upward trajectory.

[TexasTony]

I know some folks who are graduating and are excited to see Arnold. I think it is a good thing.