In a motion, the Board of Trustees approved a four percent increase to room and board, a new technology fee and an increase in tuition for the Masters in Science in Nursing program by three percent.
The increases were passed to cover campus renovation projects and to contribute to the overall budget, which suffered a shortfall at the end of last semester. The technology fee will cost full-time students $125 a term, part-time students $75 per term and students enrolled in December term $10 a credit hour.
“We’re holding tuition levels, but costs do increase, and we’re not running at a surplus, so something has to give,” finance committee Chair Jim Rutherford, speaking on the room and board increase, said.
The technology fee, according to Vice President for Business Affairs Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings, will contribute over $600,000 to campus renovation.
All proposals were submitted to the Board of Trustees by the board finance committee, which was advised by the budget subcommittee. The budget subcommittee projected a $1.9 million shortfall, meaning they planned to spend $1.9 million more than they had, at an October meeting.
Amelia Gramling, women’s gender and sexuality studies major and student trustee, raised concerns about transparency in approving the room and board increase. Gramling said the technology fee was presented and explained in student assembly while the room and board increase was discussed but not explained.
“In the efforts of transparency, we came and talked to student government about the implementation of the IT fee and it’s, and we don’t have the power in that position to say ‘well, no,’ you know, and then that’s where it dies. But we do have the power to understand it better and to contribute feedback,” Gramling said.
Gramling suggested that the increases be communicated to the student body in order to reduce resentment. Several board members, including Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings, also chair of the senate budget subcommittee, and President Kathy Krendl expressed approval of the idea.
The Planning Committee, headed by Krendl, presented ideas for cost-saving measures to address the projected $1.9 million shortfall. The committee identified $750,000 in savings which include savings from position vacancies. Krendl's report accompanied reports from all four governance assemblies.
In a separate item of business, a capital budget of $4.4 million was drawn from the investment fund, $2.7 million of which will be allocated to the new STEAM center development.
Vice President of Institutional Advancement Mike McGreevey said the “Where We STAND Matters” campaign is “lagging” in its goals despite two recent donations that put the campaign halfway on its way to reaching its goal of $50 million. The campaign aims to reach $50 million in cash and commitments by 2019.
