Sharp reductions in state funding of higher education factored heavily in Tuesday’s decision by the Stephen F. Austin Station University Board of Regents to raise tuition and room-and-board rates for the coming academic year.
Designated tuition will be raised from $124.40 to $141.86 per semester credit hour beginning in fall 2012, increasing the cost of a 15-hour semester by $291. Additionally, room-and-board rates will increase 2.5 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively. Together, the room-and-board rates will equate to an increase of about $96 per student each semester.
Raising costs for students is something the Board of Regents does not take lightly, according to Dr. Scott Coleman of Houston, chairman of the board’s finance and audit committee.
“This is a huge issue for us because it directly impacts those we are trying to serve – the student body itself,” he said.
“Providing the services we do and the courses we want to offer and the education quality we have is paramount in our thoughts. We don’t take this lightly. (We do our best) to make sure that what we bring forward to you is something that will continue the university’s function yet still provide a quality service for the students.”
Coleman said SFA’s tuition currently falls about in the middle of what institutions across the state are charging for a college education. However, while six-year graduation rates have been on the decline statewide, SFA has reported steady increases in the past five years.
The regents adopted a summer budget totaling approximately $3.57 million. The figure represents a decrease of approximately $1 million from last year’s summer budget, which was achieved by temporarily reducing the pay scale for faculty members teaching summer courses, according to Dr. Richard Berry, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
The board also approved issuing a Request for Qualifications for an architectural firm and a Request for Proposal for a construction manager at risk to begin the construction phase of a planned conservation education center at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center. The project will be funded by donations.
The administration also was authorized to enter into an agreement with South Texas Technology Management for invention management and any subsequent agreements necessary to jointly manage or market university-owned intellectual property developed by faculty and staff members within the scope of their employment with the university. STTM provides comprehensive and integrated technology development services to their affiliates, from initial evaluation of an invention to patenting and marketing.
During the meeting Tuesday, the Board of Regents also approved:
· A list of small classes for the spring 2012 semester;
· Undergraduate and graduate curriculum changes as recommended by the administration;
· Renaming the Department of General Business within the Nelson Rusche College of Business the Department of Business Communication and Legal Studies;
· Changing the name of the Department of Chemistry within the College of Sciences and Mathematics to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry;
· The purchase of four shuttle buses at a cost not to exceed $400,000;
· Utilizing the services of CoBro Consulting to provide comprehensive program assessment, data analysis and evaluation services for the GEAR UP for Success Project to meet grant requirements;
· Set course and lab fees for Fiscal Year 2013;
· Use available fund balances for the early pay off of SECO loan obligations totaling $3.92 million;
· Renew the lease of space in the Baker Pattillo Student Center with Commercial Bank of Texas for an additional five years;
· Grant awards allocable to Fiscal Year 2012 totaling more than $333,000; and
· Various policy revisions.
