December 10, 2002 Feature
Story
Questions
and Answers About Proposed Tier II Tuition Increases
Q: What is meant by Tier I versus Tier II tuition increases?
A: At its November 2002 meeting, the Utah Board of Regents
approved a 4.5% Tier I tuition increase for next year for all
universities and colleges in the state. One-half of one percent
of this increase is for student financial aid to be used on
the campuses where it is collected. In addition to the Tier
I increase, USU is proposing Tier II tuition increases. All
of the revenue generated from the Tier II increase will be retained
at USU to meet critical academic and student services needs.
Q: What is ASUSU’s position on the proposed Tier
II tuition increase?
A: ASUSU passed a resolution on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002, supporting
the proposed Tier II increases.
Q: Why does USU need additional tuition?
A: If Utah State University is to improve the quality of its
academic offerings, additional revenues must be generated. Additional
faculty are needed to reduce class size and provide more faculty
contact with students.
- USU has a student-faculty ratio of 25.9-1
compared to an average ratio of its peer institutions of 17-1.
- Only 71% of students are returning to USU
after their first year. The average for our peer institutions
is 85%.
- Only 49% of Utah State University students
graduate in six years. The average for our peer institutions
is 64%.
Q: Why hasn’t the State of Utah provided additional
support?
A: Over the last year, Utah State University has lost $9.5
million of its budget from legislatively imposed cuts to address
state budget shortfalls. All indications are that in the next
session of the Legislature, additional cuts are likely to be
imposed. None of the Tier II revenues will be used to cover
these cuts.
Q: What are details of the proposed Tier II increases?
A. The proposed Tier II tuition increase is 5% for undergraduates
and 2.5% for graduate students. That is in addition to the 4.5%
Tier I tuition increase recommended by the Utah Board of Regents.
The dollar amount of the Tier I, 4.5%, increase will be: (1)
$54/semester for resident undergraduate students, (2) $173/semester
for non-resident undergraduate students, (3) $65/semester for
graduate resident students, and (4) $227/semester for non-resident
graduate students.
The dollar amount of the Tier II increase, 5% for undergraduate
students and 2.5% for graduate students, will be: (1) $60/semester
for undergraduate resident students, (2) $192/semester for undergraduate
non-resident students, (3) $36/semester for graduate resident
students, and (4) $126/semester for graduate non-resident students.
Q: Why is there a difference in the proposed Tier II
tuition for graduate students?
A: The smaller increment for graduate students is a reflection
of the fact that last year the tuition increase for graduate
students was approximately 20%.
Q: How much money will be generated from the proposed
Tier II tuition increases?
A: About $2,005,873 will be generated next year.
Q: What will the money be used for?
A: Every dollar of the proposed Tier II tuition increase will
remain at Utah State University. The money will be used in two
areas: Instruction and improved Advising (expended in 2004-2005)
and Academic Support (one-time allocation, 2003-2004).
1. Instruction. Utah State will hire 25.5*
full-time permanent faculty in Business, English, Art, Languages
and Philosophy, Math and Statistics, Education, Science, and
Engineering Initiative match. (* Includes 7.25 full-time permanent
faculty to match the Governor’s Engineering Initiative.)
These new hires will be made where they are most needed to address
bottleneck class problems.
— $1,755,873
In addition, we will hire six full-time permanent advisors
and staff to create a centralized First-Year Advising Center
consisting of advisors from every college. Advisors will be
cross-trained and the center will be open for extended hours.
— $250,000
2. Academic Support. Other money from the
proposed Tier II tuition increase will be used to strengthen
critical academic support services.
Enhance university libraries to maintain journal subscriptions,
enhance monograph collections and electronic resources.
— $ 700,000
Implement a new Banner information system that will benefit
students by providing an integrated system that eliminates duplication,
allows round-the-clock access, and is easier to use than the
present system.
— $1,000,000
Supplemental Instruction, Rhetoric Associates
— $66,150
Increase number of sections in bottleneck courses
— $239,72
All Tier II tuition revenue will be used to benefit
USU students. None will go to athletics or be used to increase
faculty salaries.
Q: Will there be Tier II tuition increases proposed
for future years?
A: Yes. This year’s increases are part of a three-year
goal to improve academic quality. The current plan is to request
a 4% increase for 2004-2005. The three-year plan will allow
70 new faculty to be hired, as well as enhance other academic
programs at the university.
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