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Tuition hike of 13 percent almost certain
SCSU students will most likely see a tuition hike of 13 percent come fall semester, 2002.
All that remains now is for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities board of trustees to approve the proposed tuition hike, as well as the university's budget proposal. The news follows the contract ratification approved Tuesday for state university faculty.
But while the contract ratification has played a part in the amount of tuition increase, the SCSU administration had anticipated it well in advance.
"We had anticipated last spring (that there would be) a 10 percent increase," said Diana Burlison, associate vice president for administrative affairs. "The additional three percent is because of the state budget."
Other consequences of the contract ratification, as well as the cut in higher education spending by the state government, are reduced reserves for the university and a freeze on recruitment of faculty for the 15 to 20 positions still open at SCSU.
"There are a number of positions which become open each year," Burlison said. "There is a search process in place to fill those positions (when they become open). Right now, we are attempting to fill a majority of those positions."
Members of the Inter Faculty Organization voted Tuesday to accept the contract for fiscal years 2002 and 2003. The IFO is the union that represents about 2,500 state university faculty.
Faculty will receive a 2.5 percent pay raise this year and a 5 percent increase for fiscal year 2003.
The package containing the proposed tuition increase and university budget proposal will be presented to MnSCU today. The vice-chancellor of finance will then bring this up to the board of trustees in their next meeting.
Undergraduate tuition currently stands at $102.10 per credit, but with the tuition hike, this will go up to $115.40.
Leslie Andres can be reached at: [email protected]
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