Tier II Tuition proposal passed
The Associated Students of Utah State University Executive Council passed its resolution for Tier II Tuition on Nov. 26, as recommended by President Kermit L. Hall.
Tier II Tuition is the second change in tuition for the 2003-04 school year. Tier I Tuition, which is levied by the state, was also changed. Earlier this year, the Legislature proposed a 4.5 percent tuition increase throughout Utah.
While money from Tier I Tuition will go to the state and be divided among the nine public, higher-education institutions, Tier II Tuition money will go directly to USU.
Celestial Bybee, ASUSU president, said two years ago, the Legislature began allowing individual universities to increase second-tier tuition along with first-tier tuition.
The Tier II Tuition proposal calls for a 5 percent tuition increase, in addition to the state’s 4.5 percent increase, for the 2003-04 school year, Bybee said.
“Our 5 percent increase is very modest in comparison to other schools in Utah,” she said. “Another way our Tier II Tuition increase is different than other schools in Utah is that other schools will be using their money to pay professors’ salaries. All of the money USU will be getting will be used directly for students.”
Kristen Taylor, ASUSU Business senator, said she agrees with Hall’s proposal and ASUSU’s resolution.
“Our resolution was very similar to President Hall’s proposal,” she said.
The resolution, which is sponsored by all the ASUSU senators and the Extension vice president, lends support for Hall’s 2003-04 Tier II Tuition proposal. The proposal includes improving faculty-to-student ratios, increasing the number of advisers, maintaining support for libraries at USU, and improving the online QUAD system.
Taylor agreed with all of the improvements needed, especially the need for more faculty and advisers.
“Our faculty-to-student ratio is far above other institutions,” she said.
She also added that in the business department, there are only two advisers for 1,500 students.
Bybee agreed with the need for more faculty and advisers.
“We have great professors, but we don’t have enough,” she said. “We also need more advisers so students understand what is needed for them to graduate.”
Jeff Burton, a senior in public relations, is willing to pay more tuition money to see more faculty and advisers brought in. He acknowledged that more advisers would help make students at USU more competitive among their peers at other institutions around the country.
“At the same time, though,” Burton said, “our governor and other state leaders need to put their money where their mouths are and start shelling out more money to higher education. We, as students, shouldn’t be having to pay it all.”
Jeff Leek, ASUSU Science senator, said Hall implemented a three-year plan for Tier II Tuition increases that went into effect last year.
According to Hall’s plan, Tier II Tuition has decreased 1 percent from last year and will go down an additional 1 percent next year, Bybee said.
Hall will present his proposal to USU students Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom. The proposal will then be presented to the Board of Trustees, which will vote on it immediately. Then the Board of Regents will vote on it and most likely approve it, Taylor said. The Legislature will review it after that.
“I’ll be very, very surprised if this proposal doesn’t go through,” Taylor said. “There’s just no other place to get the money.”
–emilieholmes@cc.usu.edu