2008 Woodie Awards
University officials propose 9 percent tuition increase
Ashley Edwards
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
At Thursday's tuition forum, the University revealed its intention to present the Board of Regents with a proposal favoring a 9 percent increase in tuition for the 2008-2009 fiscal year at its meeting today. The Board will again discuss the tuition at its May 16 meeting before being asked to adopt a budget May 30.
The tuition increase is a result of statewide budget cuts.
Tom Denton, vice president of finance and administrative services, said Murray State is on target with other universities in Kentucky, including the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University, who are also planning to propose a 9 percent increase.
University President Randy Dunn said regional discounts will remain the same.
"We're trying to maintain status quo with the out-of-state pricing … because if we run it all the way up to what it could be, we're going to loose those students and that hurts us too," Dunn said.
Dunn said even with the 9 percent increase, the University will only break even. He said despite the increase, Murray State will have to make additional cuts to fund new priorities and salary increases. These cuts will not be determined until the budget is adopted.
Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, said there is going to be a 3.5 percent increase for meal plans and a housing cost increase of $330,000.
"That is dollars that are being set aside for our new construction of Richmond/Franklin Colleges and that's added to our debt service for housing of about $2,700,000," he said.
The standard rate for a double room in a residential college will go up $121 and private rooms will go up $193.
Students living in New Clark will also be responsible for paying an extra $500. College Courts residents will not see a rate increase next year.
Robertson said the additional housing funds will cover salary increase for employees, hiring additional employees for security purposes and covering increased utility costs.
Dunn said because of the increased rates, Murray State may not make the Kiplinger's top 15 schools for the best value as it has in years past. He said he hopes students see the benefits of increasing tuition.
"I am worried that if we don't try to keep moving forward we are going to slip back," Dunn said. "If our overarching, ideal value is low price, then we just need to say that and have that be the thing that drives this institution. If it's the case that we want to keep calling ourselves a public ivy, to try to work to the institutions in that group … (then the University needs to do that because) I don't think we can do both."
Ashley Edwards can be reached at ashleyb. edwards@murraystate.edu.
The tuition increase is a result of statewide budget cuts.
Tom Denton, vice president of finance and administrative services, said Murray State is on target with other universities in Kentucky, including the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University, who are also planning to propose a 9 percent increase.
University President Randy Dunn said regional discounts will remain the same.
"We're trying to maintain status quo with the out-of-state pricing … because if we run it all the way up to what it could be, we're going to loose those students and that hurts us too," Dunn said.
Dunn said even with the 9 percent increase, the University will only break even. He said despite the increase, Murray State will have to make additional cuts to fund new priorities and salary increases. These cuts will not be determined until the budget is adopted.
Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, said there is going to be a 3.5 percent increase for meal plans and a housing cost increase of $330,000.
"That is dollars that are being set aside for our new construction of Richmond/Franklin Colleges and that's added to our debt service for housing of about $2,700,000," he said.
The standard rate for a double room in a residential college will go up $121 and private rooms will go up $193.
Students living in New Clark will also be responsible for paying an extra $500. College Courts residents will not see a rate increase next year.
Robertson said the additional housing funds will cover salary increase for employees, hiring additional employees for security purposes and covering increased utility costs.
Dunn said because of the increased rates, Murray State may not make the Kiplinger's top 15 schools for the best value as it has in years past. He said he hopes students see the benefits of increasing tuition.
"I am worried that if we don't try to keep moving forward we are going to slip back," Dunn said. "If our overarching, ideal value is low price, then we just need to say that and have that be the thing that drives this institution. If it's the case that we want to keep calling ourselves a public ivy, to try to work to the institutions in that group … (then the University needs to do that because) I don't think we can do both."
Ashley Edwards can be reached at ashleyb. edwards@murraystate.edu.
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