Tuition increase would increase faculty, aid libraries and advising
The 3.5 percent tuition increase proposed by Utah State University President Kermit L. Hall above the state-mandated 5.5 percent would be used to improve the faculty-to-student ratio, university libraries and student advising if approved.
“Based on student input, those are the kinds of things the money should be used for,” said USU Provost Stan Albrecht.
The increase was proposed by Hall at the Associated Students of USU Executive Council meeting Tuesday. The council will vote Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. to support or oppose the proposal at its weekly meeting in the Taggart Student Center Senate Chambers. A public hearing will also be held April 13 in the TSC Sunburst Lounge at noon.
“President Hall understands this is student money and they should have a say in how it is used,” said John DeVilbiss, director of USU Public Relations and Marketing. “He wants student input.”
The “Truth in Tuition” bill passed by the Utah Legislature this year allows four-year institutions of higher education in the state to increase their tuition beyond what the state mandates.
“The specific funds generated on campus will be used on campus,” Albrecht said.
The state-mandated increase of 5.5 percent will increase tuition to $1,268.64 for full-time resident students. If the Board of Regents approves Hall’s proposal, tuition will increase to $1,295.04 for full-time resident students beginning Fall Semester.
Albrecht said while other Utah schools have already told the Board of Regents what their recommended tuition increases are, USU is waiting to hear what students have to say about it.
“The other four institutions immediately moved forward and all of their proposals were approved,” Albrecht said. “We did not propose. We were all students and understand tuition increases. We were committed to doing it right.”
Tuition increases at Weber State University, Utah Valley State College, Southern Utah University and the University of Utah ranging from 1.3 percent to 7 percent beginning for summer classes were all approved by the Board of Regents during its March meeting, Albrecht said. Craig Petersen, USU chief of staff, said Hall chose 3.5 percent because it will generate $1 million during the first year.
Petersen said two of the largest goals Hall has are to increase the freshman retention rate and the graduation rate by lowering the student-to-faculty ratio, improving the library and student advising. Currently USU has a 63 percent retention rate and a graduation rate of 48 percent within six years of beginning at USU.
“Some of it can be explained by [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] missionaries,” Petersen said.
DeVilbiss said roughly half of the $1 million will be used for faculty, 30 percent for student advising and the remaining 20 percent for need-based financial aid.
“We will probably hold off on improving the library for a year,” DeVilbiss said. “In 2002 we will use one-time funds for faculty hiring for library improvements.”
The funds planned for faculty will be used to hire new faculty and not to increase salaries, DeVilbiss said. The student-to-faculty ratio at USU is 24-to-1, DeVilbiss said, compared to 14-to-1 at the University of Utah. USU is currently 23 percent below peer institutions in faculty pay and 33 percent below other Carnegie I research institutions, he said.
“The tuition increase is not for faculty pay increase. The president doesn’t want to make that a student burden. That money should come from the state,” DeVilbiss said.
Over the past two years, DeVilbiss said 44 faculty members have left for other universities or corporations with salary increases of $5,000 to $50,000, and 15 of the faculty took $11.3 million in research grants.
Petersen said the hiring of new faculty will be based on need. Engineering, education, computer science and business information systems will likely be the main focus.
To improve student advising, Petersen said the university is looking at an online program that will allow students to customize to their needs.
DeVilbiss said Brigham Young University is using a similar program that tells students which general education classes they have completed and which requirements have not been fulfilled.
“It will be [the students’] place on the Internet to have what [they] want,” Petersen said. “We are thinking about it for staff, also.”
The remaining portion of money will be used for need-based financial aid. Those impacted most would not be required to pay the increase, DeVilbiss said.
“The institution doesn’t want or try to gouge students. We have to come to students, too,” DeVilbiss said. “It is important for everybody to feel a little bit of the burden.”
Albrecht said Pell Grants have been increased $450 and state-based aid has also increased for next year.