It’s easy to find fault these days. In fact, it is easier to criticize than to compliment or praise.

This certainly is true in the field of education. With so many billions of dollars spent every year at local and national levels, many question how school officials set their spending priorities and just how carefully and prudently this money is being spent.

A few years ago, private money — no state funds — was used to purchase a jet for the use of Kansas University officials and individuals engaged in university-related events.

It had become apparent there was a growing need and demand for KU faculty members, both from Lawrence and Kansas City, to participate in activities and programs throughout the state and nation. It was becoming impossible for KU staffers, faculty members and others to meet the needs and requests for their presence and to attend meetings where it was important for the university to be represented.

This hastened the decision to buy a jet for KU.

There are those who have been critical of this move, but it has proven to be a tremendous help to the university and the state. For example, with federal grants and the dollars they bring with them becoming increasingly important to the state of Kansas and the growth and excellence of KU’s research efforts, it is almost imperative that KU faculty members be able to make their presentations and cases face-to-face with the appropriate officials in Washington and elsewhere. Although it would be wrong to try to build an argument that the availability of a jet has had the greatest direct impact on the growth of grant dollars to KU in recent years, the facts speak for themselves.

Last year, KU received a record-high amount of research grant money, and, time after time, KU faculty members were able to use the jet to get to and from Washington and other locations without losing time from their classrooms, research facilities and offices, either here in Lawrence or at the medical center in Kansas City.

Some continue to think the jet is nothing more than a luxury, a means for top KU officials to fly to exotic locations, for others to take frivolous trips or for KU coaches to use for recruiting junkets. There has been reason to question the appropriateness of a few of the flights when short trips could have been made as easily by automobile or prop plane, but overall, there has been close management of the jet’s use.

Last year, there were 284 flights of the jet, compared to 307 the year before. This is a 7.5 percent reduction, either by accident or as a result of administration efforts to control costs.

Of these 284 flights, those engaged in the KU Medical Center outreach program used the jet for 156 flights, compared to 123 flights in 2002. This represents a 26.8 percent increase, but this is a reflection of how the medical center is playing an increasingly active and important role in medical education and medical practices throughout the state. The state and its residents clearly are winners in this situation.

The plane was used by those in the athletic department on 43 trips in the 2003 fiscal year, compared to 57 flights in fiscal 2002. This is a 24.6 percent reduction, brought about either by an emphasis on reducing the flights for budgetary reasons or just because the plane was needed less.

Overall, the KU Medical Center outreach program was the single most frequent user of the plane by KUMC administrators and other passengers, including those from the school of nursing, department of surgery and school of medicine. These flights totaled 173 in fiscal 2003 and represented 60.9 percent of the plane’s use. The next most frequent user was the athletic department with 15.1 percent of the total flights; followed by the Kansas Honors Program, 7.4 percent; the chancellor’s office, 4.9 percent; KU academic units, 3.5 percent; the KU Endowment Association, 3.2 percent; Washington, D.C., flights, 1.8 percent; Kansas state agencies (attorney general, Commerce and Housing, Social and Rehabilitation Services and Wildlife and Parks); executive vice chancellor for university relations, 1.4 percent; and the KU Alumni Association, 0.4 percent.

By the way, all the trips made by those in the chancellor’s office were university-related for Kansas Board of Regents, development, alumni, public relations or athletic activities.

There’s no question that flying by jet beats long hours on a highway or the hassle of commercial air travel with long waits, canceled flights and schedules that keep faculty and staff away from their classrooms and offices for too long. The KU jet has helped the university and the state in many ways.

There’s likely to be continued criticism of the use and expense of the jet, particularly in the current tight financial climate. Nevertheless, KU officials are being careful and demanding in how the plane is used, and it has been a tremendous asset for the university and the state.

By most every measurement, the jet has been a bargain and winner for KU and the state.