SUU Board of Trustees approve tuition increase
Matthew Montgomery
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
The SUU Board of Trustees approved the university's recommended 3.5 percent second-tier tuition increase, which must still be approved by the Utah State Board of Regents.
The proposed increase is in the same range as those made at other higher education institutions in Utah, SUU President Michael T. Benson said.
Increasing second-tier tuition is not something he is excited about, but there has been a "great deal" of thought given to it, he said.
Nearly 50 percent of the second-tier tuition revenue will fund further compensation of faculty and staff. Benson said he plans to continue the increase in compensation through his administration.
"The principle object of my administration will be to take care of our faculty and staff," Benson said.
Students have been supportive of the increase going toward compensation of faculty and staff, Holt said.
SUUSA President
The constitutional amendments voted on in the 2008 SUUSA General Election will be voted on in the next meeting of the SUU Board of Trustees, said SUUSA President Jesse Holt.
The 2008-2009 SUUSA Senate will include graduate students, Holt said.
"Now they can have a voice and benefit the same way as undergraduates," he said.
The inauguration of Jon McNaughtan, SUUSA President-elect, will take place April 7, Holt said.
SUU President
The announcement of a new provost will take place on March 26, Benson said.
The "Future is Rising" fundraising campaign is being encouraged internally through donations by faculty and staff, Benson said.
Faculty senate
Christine Frezza, SUU Faculty Senate president, said Denise Woodbury, associate professor of finance, will be assuming the position of president at an April 24 meeting of the faculty senate.
Frezza said she recommended that serving on the faculty senate be made mandatory for every faculty member.
The faculty senate has been examining outdated policies and have looked at more than half of policies older than ten years, she said.
Student evaluations are an ongoing concern for the faculty senate, Frezza said.
"We are down to a very low number of students complying with evaluations," she said. "It is important to have a good, solid evaluative measurement."
Requests for use of WebCT by professors, made by the SUUSA Executive Council and SUUSA Senate will be presented to the faculty senate, Frezza said, though she anticipates "some resistance" to the proposal.
The request "strongly encourages" the use of WebCT, Frezza said after the meeting.
Proper training may allay such resistance, Frezza said.
Utah Shakespearean Festival
Greg Stauffer, SUU vice president and chief of staff, requested trustee approval of a $3 surcharge on tickets to Utah Shakespearean Festival performances.
The surcharge would compensate for the funds not passed by the Utah State Legislature, specifically $5 million in economic development funding that would have gone to the construction of a new Shakespeare theatre.
The funds would go to bond repayment, which would not be dependent on net income or profit. The bond would be used in the construction of a new theatre.
In response to concern that the festival has not been profitable in recent years, Stauffer said the concern was a consideration in the proposal.
The request was tabled pending response and recommendation of the Utah Shakespearean Festival Board of Governors and will be discussed at the next meeting of the board of trustees.
Course fees
Interim Provost Rodney Decker said course fees have been re-evaluated by the deans. There will be a decrease in fees, with a decrease in revenue anticipated of just under $150,000. The decrease will affect 20,000 total student enrollments.
Student fees
An increase in student fees of $2 a semester for health services was passed by the board of trustees, up from a recommendation of $1.50 a semester because of an anticipated cost-of-living adjustment. The increase is for hiring a full-time medical assistant.
A decrease in student fees allocated to the University Journal was recommended by the Student Fee Review Committee, as there was a surplus in the range of $72,000 to $75,000.
The President's Council recommended the fees allocated remain the same, as the committee did not take into account future costs expenditures. The council also recommended a review of Journal funding and resources be completed before the reconvening of the review committee in October 2008.
Policy changes
The board of trustees unanimously approved two revised policies: policy 5.8, which deals with computer software licensing, and policy 5.33, which deals with student short-term loans.
Policy 8.2.6, which deals with life insurance, was revised to change dollar amounts for inflation. The revision was tabled for further investigation of costs to SUU.
Campaign progress
Stuart Jones, SUU vice president of advancement, said the total amount that has been raised in campaigning is $21 million from Jan. 1 to March 13. The campaign goal is $115 million, leaving nearly $94 million to be raised.
SUU Head Start
The board of trustees passed a policy on impasse and mediation with SUU Head Start.
A report of an organization-wide audit of SUU Head Start finding no unexpended Federal funds, which required approval by the board, was passed.
SUU Head Start Executive Director Virginia Higbee said all Head Start teachers will be required to have an associate degree by 2009, while half of all Head Start teachers will be required to have a four-year degree by 2011.
The proposed increase is in the same range as those made at other higher education institutions in Utah, SUU President Michael T. Benson said.
Increasing second-tier tuition is not something he is excited about, but there has been a "great deal" of thought given to it, he said.
Nearly 50 percent of the second-tier tuition revenue will fund further compensation of faculty and staff. Benson said he plans to continue the increase in compensation through his administration.
"The principle object of my administration will be to take care of our faculty and staff," Benson said.
Students have been supportive of the increase going toward compensation of faculty and staff, Holt said.
SUUSA President
The constitutional amendments voted on in the 2008 SUUSA General Election will be voted on in the next meeting of the SUU Board of Trustees, said SUUSA President Jesse Holt.
The 2008-2009 SUUSA Senate will include graduate students, Holt said.
"Now they can have a voice and benefit the same way as undergraduates," he said.
The inauguration of Jon McNaughtan, SUUSA President-elect, will take place April 7, Holt said.
SUU President
The announcement of a new provost will take place on March 26, Benson said.
The "Future is Rising" fundraising campaign is being encouraged internally through donations by faculty and staff, Benson said.
Faculty senate
Christine Frezza, SUU Faculty Senate president, said Denise Woodbury, associate professor of finance, will be assuming the position of president at an April 24 meeting of the faculty senate.
Frezza said she recommended that serving on the faculty senate be made mandatory for every faculty member.
The faculty senate has been examining outdated policies and have looked at more than half of policies older than ten years, she said.
Student evaluations are an ongoing concern for the faculty senate, Frezza said.
"We are down to a very low number of students complying with evaluations," she said. "It is important to have a good, solid evaluative measurement."
Requests for use of WebCT by professors, made by the SUUSA Executive Council and SUUSA Senate will be presented to the faculty senate, Frezza said, though she anticipates "some resistance" to the proposal.
The request "strongly encourages" the use of WebCT, Frezza said after the meeting.
Proper training may allay such resistance, Frezza said.
Utah Shakespearean Festival
Greg Stauffer, SUU vice president and chief of staff, requested trustee approval of a $3 surcharge on tickets to Utah Shakespearean Festival performances.
The surcharge would compensate for the funds not passed by the Utah State Legislature, specifically $5 million in economic development funding that would have gone to the construction of a new Shakespeare theatre.
The funds would go to bond repayment, which would not be dependent on net income or profit. The bond would be used in the construction of a new theatre.
In response to concern that the festival has not been profitable in recent years, Stauffer said the concern was a consideration in the proposal.
The request was tabled pending response and recommendation of the Utah Shakespearean Festival Board of Governors and will be discussed at the next meeting of the board of trustees.
Course fees
Interim Provost Rodney Decker said course fees have been re-evaluated by the deans. There will be a decrease in fees, with a decrease in revenue anticipated of just under $150,000. The decrease will affect 20,000 total student enrollments.
Student fees
An increase in student fees of $2 a semester for health services was passed by the board of trustees, up from a recommendation of $1.50 a semester because of an anticipated cost-of-living adjustment. The increase is for hiring a full-time medical assistant.
A decrease in student fees allocated to the University Journal was recommended by the Student Fee Review Committee, as there was a surplus in the range of $72,000 to $75,000.
The President's Council recommended the fees allocated remain the same, as the committee did not take into account future costs expenditures. The council also recommended a review of Journal funding and resources be completed before the reconvening of the review committee in October 2008.
Policy changes
The board of trustees unanimously approved two revised policies: policy 5.8, which deals with computer software licensing, and policy 5.33, which deals with student short-term loans.
Policy 8.2.6, which deals with life insurance, was revised to change dollar amounts for inflation. The revision was tabled for further investigation of costs to SUU.
Campaign progress
Stuart Jones, SUU vice president of advancement, said the total amount that has been raised in campaigning is $21 million from Jan. 1 to March 13. The campaign goal is $115 million, leaving nearly $94 million to be raised.
SUU Head Start
The board of trustees passed a policy on impasse and mediation with SUU Head Start.
A report of an organization-wide audit of SUU Head Start finding no unexpended Federal funds, which required approval by the board, was passed.
SUU Head Start Executive Director Virginia Higbee said all Head Start teachers will be required to have an associate degree by 2009, while half of all Head Start teachers will be required to have a four-year degree by 2011.
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