University administrators recently released a list of programs that will benefit financially from the $6.6 million generated by last fall's tuition surcharge.
Over $4.5 million of the fund was allocated to the protection of core instructional and academic support programs in all schools.
According to Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget, $2.6 million of that $4.5 million was used for the College.
Sheehy said the College-directed portion of surcharge monies allowed the school to maintain 150 courses that otherwise would have been eliminated from course offerings due to budget cuts.
"In most cases, the money that went to schools went to ensure classes would continue, sections would continue and faculty would be retained," Sheehy said.
Money raised by the tuition surcharge was used to reduce funding reductions caused by state budget cuts, not to provide departments with additional revenue.
$729,588 of tuition surcharge dollars was used to continue funding for administrative functions, including the police department, the audit department and the comptrollers office.
Another $705,455 was used to bolster undergraduate and graduate financial aid -- $205,000 for undergraduate aid.
Provision for student financial aid was the primary consideration for administrators when distributing tuition surcharge revenue, Sheehy said.
Financial aid also was a key concern laid out in a Student Council resolution passed on Nov. 5, 2002, concerning the mid-year tuition hike.
The resolution advised administrators that every effort should be made to provide financially needy students with appropriate aid.
Citing attention to financial aid, as well as to printing, technology and maintenance services, Council President Micah Schwartz said he was pleased by the way tuition surcharge dollars were distributed.
"It seemed to target those issues that had concerned students in the fall. That clearly indicates that [administrators] are concerned with student opinion," Schwartz said. "I was pleased to see such a great portion went to support academic and instructional programs, because I believe it's these components of the University that would have otherwise faced the most detrimental effects of the budget cuts."
Distribution decisions were made based on individual assessments of University departments' abilities to absorb budget cuts and make use of other resources, and the general need of the department, Sheehy said.
Surcharge revenue also was used to aid support levels for graduation, convocation and other events, custodial and maintenance services, printing, technology, student orientation and support services.
"I believe the tuition surcharge was necessary and that the funds procured from it served to insulate students from what would have been more onerous budget cuts," Schwartz said.
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