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Student tuition increase approved

Board of Regents has approved a 3-year plan for tuition and student service fee increases to me implemented next fall

Emily Nickles, Editor-in-Chief

PrintThe TWU Board of Regents met last week, Feb. 18 and 19 to evaluate reports from the Finance and Audit Committee and Academic Affairs Committees. The board has officially approved the proposed tuition increases made at the recommendation of the Finance and Audit Committee.   

In order to comply with the statewide transparency policy for universities, the proposed tuition increases were presented to students Feb. 15 and 16 in an open hearing for students to learn about and give input about these changes. Interim Vice President of Finance and Administration B.J. Crain delivered this presentation at the meeting on Thursday.

The university is requesting a $7.94 increase per semester credit hour for the 2016-2017 school year, and in 2018 that will be raised a dollar at $8.37 per semester credit hour. Currently, tuition rates are capped at $198.32 per credit hour for state residents. Undergraduate nonresidents pay a staggering $588.32 tuition rate per credit hour; these two rates will increase with the new plan. In the meeting, Crain stated: “This increase will be used for things like student scholarships, strategic planning initiatives, enhancement and expansion of our academic programs, and recruitment and retention of faculty and staff.”

In addition to the overall tuition increase, there will be a differential tuition increase for students enrolled in the Music Department. TWU received an accreditation report from the National Association for Schools of Music last year that identified the need for immediate improvements to bring the program up to standards — equipment was less than adequate as well as services for faculty and staff.

TWU was recommended to improve and resolve these issues in the program, and the university has decided, therefore, to recommend increases in tuition to meet these needs. They will add $35 charge to the university tuition rate to compensate for this difference. Further increases were proposed for student service fees, identification and the library.

Also of important mention is that the Board of Regents has approved the motion to repurpose the land that the golf course lies on for the future use of constructing buildings and more campus green space. HKS, Inc., a national and international architectural firm agreed to create a proposal for the potential uses for the land pro bono. Randy Morton, from the New York City location, generously shared a vision for the 104 acres available for use while considering all the aspects that make the university unique and historical.

The report for future residence hall construction that was recommended and the draft for the campus carry law that has been passed by the state legislature and opted by the university are still under consideration for the next session. There will be another Board of Regents meeting in April, where these items will likely be on the agenda.

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