Dunn discusses tuition at MSU
By KRISTIN TAYLOR
Staff Writer
Murray State students can expect tuition to cost $210 more each semester next school year. And those who want to live in the new Clark College will have a room increase beyond those in the older dorms.
MSU President Randy Dunn, Vice President for Finance Tom Denton and Vice President for Student Affairs Don Robertson presented a brief overview of tuition, housing rates and dining fees in the context of the 2007-08 budget during a forum Friday afternoon in the Curris Center Theater. About a dozen students and twice as many administrators, regents, professors and staff attended.
The scenario presented to the students included an 8.4 percent increase for tuition and fees, translating into $210 more each semester.
That proposal would bring the total tuition rate to $5,418 annually, according to information Denton presented.
The proposed percentage increase is below the maximum 9.5 percent more the state's Council on Postsecondary Education will allow regional universities like Murray State.
An increase of 8.4 percent also is the second lowest in the state, with only Kentucky State University raising its rate less, and the dollar equivalent means only Morehead State University ($205) and KSU ($198) have smaller increases, according to charts Denton presented.
Western Kentucky University students will likely pay $6,416 annually while Eastern Kentucky students will be charged $5,682 for the coming year.
Murray State's Board of Regents will consider the increase at its meeting Friday in Pogue Library. With the budget scenario, Dunn said regents also will receive a summary of comments from the forum.
The regents then will approve the university's full budget at its May meeting.
Denton said tuition and mandatory rates generate $61.8 million, but the net revenue is only $38.1 million after scholarships, waivers and other discounts are factored into the equation.
The university has a total of $107 million in revenue with $48.1 million - the largest amount - going toward instruction and $11.9 million for student services and athletics.
Student Government Association President Scott Ellison, who serves as the student representative on the Board of Regents, thanked the administrators for taking the time to share the information openly.
“I know it's not an easy topic to talk about,” he said. “I appreciate the student turnout, but I wish more students were here to hear it.”
Ellison asked Dunn what it will take for colleges to dip into students' pockets less, adding that eventually the rising costs are going to be too much to bear.
Dunn said Murray State isn't alone with trying to keep college affordable while receiving less money from the state.
“Scott, I sat in a ballroom full of presidents, and they were asking the same questions,” Dunn said about a meeting he attended recently in Washington, D.C.
For complete story, see Saturday's Ledger & Times
Story created Feb 16, 2007 - 23:24:45 EST.
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