Tuition going up to get debt down

Tuition will be up $119 next year and budget deficit reduction is a major goal of the university, President Albrecht said, in a public forum about Tier II tuition Tuesday.

Albrecht said to meet needs the university must have about $2.2 million. He said to raise the money, tuition would have to go up 5 percent to reach the goal if enrollment stays flat but it would need to be raised 3 percent if there is a 2 percent increase in enrollment.

If the university doesn’t get the money they want, Albrecht said money will be cut in all areas except student initiatives.

Tuition will go up next year from $1,689 to $1,808. There is a 4 percent increase in Tier 1 tuition of $68 and a 3 percent increase in Tier II Tuition, making a total 7 percent increase of $119.

This will help the university to cut debt. Albrecht said USU’s $7.5 million deficit is due largely to two things: because for three years the legislature cut the USU budget and because House Bill 331 discouraged out-of-state students, especially from border states, from attending USU. Over that time, Albrecht said USU “accumulated a significant budget deficit.”

While Albrecht said the debt has been reduced by 50 percent in the last few years, he is hoping with the university’s comprehensive fundraising campaign they will be able to compensate for budget fluctuations.

He said the 2007-2008 priority needs are $1.5 million in base deficit reduction, $100,000 toward enrollment needs, $210,000 toward student initiatives, $250,000 for operating budgets and $150,000 for the globalization initiative.

Logan Ipsen, the agriculture senator, said a committee identified eight areas of concern for students and ultimately decided to put discretionary funding toward better academic advising for undeclared students and for selective investment money.

Gary Chambers, vice president for Student Services, said selective investment is taken out of a $50,000 fund of discretionary money ASUSU is given that is separate from their budget. Chambers said the ASUSU president and the VP for Student Services discuss what the money will go toward, and it is only used for one time projects students need every year. He said some of the current things they are discussing is making a smoker’s lounge on the second floor patio and getting more final’s week tutoring.