Legislative measures will aid USU, 3 trustee professorships awarded
President Kermit L. Hall’s summary of the 2001 Utah State Legislature highlighted the Utah State University Board of Trustees meeting Friday morning.
Hall said the legislative measures approved in the last session will greatly improve USU in capitol facilities: $29 million will go to a new heating plant, $23 million will go to a new engineering building with $10 million to be raised by private funds and $2.74 million to buy the Continuing Education Building in Brigham City, which had previously been leased with student fees.
Hall also said the legislature approved a 12.6 percent increase for higher education in Utah, however the funding for new enrollment growth was less than expected.
The legislature approved a 6 percent increase in the compensation package for university employees including increases in both salary and health and dental benefits.
Newly elected ASUSU president Steve Palmer was also introduced to the trustees. Palmer will become a member of the board as part of his duties.
The board also awarded George Tripp, Engineering senator and graduating senior in mechanical engineering, for his outstanding academic achievements while at USU.
Also announced at the meeting was the awarding of trustee professorships to three USU professors. Those awarded were Ann E. Aust, chemistry and biochemistry, J. Clair Batty, mechanical and aerospace engineering and Carol Strong, communicative disorders and deaf education.
Trustee professors are recognized for outstanding work in one or more areas, including teaching, research, the community, administration and service to the university. To be eligible, a person must be a full professor who has been at USU at least 10 years.
“This prestigious honor is reserved for the university’s most outstanding senior faculty members,” said Lowell Peterson, chair of the Board of Trustees.
Once designated, trustee professors retain the title for the rest of their careers at USU and are given the title emeritus trustee professor upon retirement. No more than three are selected each year.
Hall also said the Board of Regents is expected to approve a 5.5 percent tuition increase at their next meeting.
The increase in student tuition comes at the same time as an increase of student fees by 2.52 percent. The Student Fee Board approved the measure, which will benefit the Taggart Student Center, the new health center and help fund improvement of campus computers and libraries.