University Managers in Cowtown
The panelists agreed on several points. First, prices should be based on actual costs (budgeted hourly rates). Next, they must be competitive and be advantageous to the college or university. They must be competitive, and they must reflect knowledge of customer needs. Budgeted hourly rates should be based on 70-80 percent labor utilization. And finally, variable data should be sold as a “value-added” service, but consideration should be given to pricing VDP as a marketing initiative.
Ray Chambers, CGCM, MBA, has invested over 30 years managing and directing printing plants, copy centers, mail centers and award-winning document management facilities in higher education and government.
Most recently, Chambers served as vice president and chief information officer at Juniata College. Chambers is currently a doctoral candidate studying Higher Education Administration at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU). His research interests include outsourcing in higher education and its impact on support services in higher education and managing support services. He also consults (Chambers Management Group) with leaders in both the public and private sectors to help them understand and improve in-plant printing and document services operations.
