The Trouble with the Pegasus Model

Budgets for different units are affected to some extent by how much that unit grows (i.e., enrollment) relative to other units within UCF. So, it’s not enough that the Philosophy Department, for example, grew their enrollment. If they want to see their funding increased, they need to have grown their enrollment at a higher rate than the average department. I’ve heard administrators refer to this “Pegasus Model” budget allocation method as a zero sum game – the budget increases for some units will come at the expense of other units.

The reason this model screws students is it assumes it is always in their best interest for a fast growing unit to be rewarded with more employees and new computers. All the talk about UCF’s budget cuts have been focused on cutting low enrolled programs and limiting freshman and transfer enrollment. There is some merit to examining these possibilities. Limiting access will probably increase the value of the credential for those that earn it, although that cow is already out of the barn; there are some stupid low enrolled programs at UCF that should be eliminated. Still, it will be a great disservice to students for Hickey to not examine the budgets of units that have had success under the Pegasus model (i.e., fast growing) to see if they are using their increased resources efficiently in the service of students.