A representative from the University Budget Office presented proposals for tuition rate increases for the 2001-02 school year at last night's Student Council meeting.
Melody Bianchetto, director of the budget, told Council that the Budget Office will suggest to the Board of Visitors on Friday an increase of 2 percent in tuition for in-state graduate students and 4.8 percent for both undergraduate and graduate out-of-state students.
In-state undergraduate tuition rates were frozen by the General Assembly in the 1995-96 session and will not increase next year.
In addition to the tuition increases, the Budget Office proposed an increase in auxiliary fees of 7.8 percent applied to all students. The auxiliary fee covers the cost of services such as University Transit Service, Student Health and the operation of recreational facilities.
Some out-of-state University students said they do not want another increase in tuition.
"I only wish that they could make it a little cheaper for out-of-state students," said Meredith Spiker, a second-year Engineering student from Egg Harbor, N.J.
The Budget Office took into consideration a number of factors in deciding on the tuition increase, Bianchetto said.
The office considered the University's ability to meet student's need for financial aid, cover last year's instated faculty salary increases and remain competitive with other colleges in terms of cost.
According to Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget, these increases were a "normal increase" in yearly tuition rates.
The University budget was able to cover most of its expenses despite a freeze on the state budget imposed by Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R) this year that resulted in a loss of accessible funds to many state schools.
Gilmore was forced to cut the budget after the General Assembly adjourned without passing one for the upcoming fiscal year.
This affected the University in a number of ways, including the loss of $16.9 million in state funds for a studio arts building and a new special collections library.
"Both of these are being appealed," Bianchetto said.
In addition, the University was prevented from further increasing faculty salaries this year.
"Our goal is to have faculty salaries in the 60th percentile. Currently they are at 48 percent. Next year they will drop to around 38 percent," she said.
According to Bianchetto, state funds made up 21.1 percent of budgeted income in the academic division of the University, second only to tuition and fees, at 22.1 percent. Other funds come from sources such as gifts and endowments to the University.
"During the recession of the early '90s, we had to work through a number of budget reductions from the state ... Fortunately for the University, our strategic cuts and access to private funding during that period allowed us to emerge well placed in terms of the strength of our academic programs," Bianchetto said.
Sheehy said she will present the proposal to the Board of Visitors Friday morning and sees "no reason why they wouldn't approve it"
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