Small turnout for tuition increase public hearing

Nov 3 2009 - 12:44am | Natalia Montemayor

University administrators held a public hearing Monday to discuss a proposed tuition increase with the 11 attendees.

Students and campus administrators discussed a possible 4.9 percent overall tuition increase for the 2010 to 2011 academic year during the tuition and fees open hearing held in the LBJ Student Center.

Bill Nance, vice president of Finance and Support Services, and Provost Perry Moore spent an hour listening and responding to students’ inquiries and commentary toward the proposed increase, which will go before the Board of Regents  at their meeting Nov. 18 to Nov. 20.

“We will propose to the board that we go up an additional $9 per semester hour,” Nance said. “This increase will be used towards a 3 percent increase for faculty and staff as well as the hiring of additional advisers.”

Data compiled from the the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board show the faculty salary for Texas State is less compared to the majority of state universities. However, Texas State is fifth in popularity among prospective students.

Moore said pay increases is an important issue among faculty and will help university officials in recruiting new members.

“Last year, we received 15,000 applications and admitted only half,” he said. “From those admitted, about half went to institutions where tuition is higher and the professors are paid more. We need to maintain our relative competitive place in the market.”

Moore said the goal was to acquire 25 additional faculty members who would be assigned based on the enrollment numbers in each department.

This year, a full-time professor’s average salary is $133,799 at the University of Texas, $118,745 at Texas A&M University, compared to $87,429 at Texas State.

The proposed increase was met with opposition by students.

“I was accepted to A&M and UT but chose to come here because of the affordability,” said Craig Rice, recreation administration sophomore. “Paying for school is difficult already, and if students can’t pay they drop out.”

Frank Spates, interdisciplinary studies freshman, agreed.

“People are already struggling. If you charge more, doesn’t this make it more difficult for everyone?” Spates asked.

Moore claims the university is one of the most monetarily efficient campuses in the state, with both high graduation and retention rates.

“We are currently at a 70 percent retention rate, but want to reach 80, “Nance said.

Moore said Texas State officials try every two years to receive additional state funding, but have not had much luck.

“Of the 35 Texas public universities, we are 32nd in appropriations from the Texas Legislature, and it’s that dichotomy that leads to this,” Moore said.

A $13 increase in advising fees will be used toward hiring more advisers to help balance the student-adviser ratio, which is roughly 400 to one.

“Advisers are critical in helping students progress through this educational maze, especially freshmen,” Moore said.

The overall tuition was increased by 7 percent in 2008.

“It’s sort of like taxes, we don’t want it but it is inevitable,” Moore said.

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