Talk about tuition increase has begun
The process of deciding how much student tuition will increase next year began last night as USU President Stan Albrecht talked with ASUSU.
“This is a first conversation,” Albrecht said.
The state was awfully good to USU last year, Albrecht said, and he said he wasn’t sure the response will be the same this year. The state sets Tier I tuition, which won’t be decided until after the revenue reports are published on Feb. 15. It will be after this that the university can fully look at what funds are needed and where the money will come from, Albrecht said.
Despite the unpredictable outcome of Tier I, Albrecht said he has looked at what needs to be funded and said he wants to keep the increase as low as possible. He asked ASUSU members to consider a one to three percent increase.
“That would be lower since we’ve started,” Albrecht said.
The increases in the past seven years have ranged from 3.5 to 6.25, Albrecht showed in a power point. This would equal about $50 per full-time, residential undergraduate student. The main needs this increase would cover are the budget deficit, library funds, student initiatives, broad initiatives and IT support, Albrecht said.
After seeing the largest student enrollment in the history of the school last semester, Albrecht said he hopes the increase will continue. If it does, a one percent increase would cover the needs addressed by Albrecht.
“I’m committed to keeping (the increase) as low as possible,” Albrecht said.
Albrecht presented what the university has done with the funds in the past seven years. These included permanent faculty and advisers, academic support to enhance the library, advising, supplemental instruction, Rhetoric Associates, operating budgets, student services and student initiatives.
ASUSU members are turning to the students to see what they would like done with Tier II tuition money. Nick West, Hass senator and chair of Tier II tuition committee, said the committee is having students fill out surveys. He handed out 1,000 surveys between the ASUSU members, and students can also fill out the survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=CfmGwTgWq2L43qlcNF8GGw_3d_3d. The committee will take the suggestions into consideration for the student initiatives part of Tier II tuition.
Meetings between ASUSU and Albrecht will continue through the semester, and students will be able to voice their opinions.
-alison.baugh@aggiemail.usu.edu