REGENTS OK UNIVERSITY FEE HIKES

Student fees were increased by the Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents Wednesday. Regents said the fee hikes were unavoidable.

The university raised tuition and general fees and also boosted room and board charges for the 1999-2000 academic year.

As part of the fee hikes, the regents approved an $8.7 million operating budget for residence life, the university department that runs campus housing.

Acting on the recommendation of the administration, the regents increased the per-credit-hour fee by varying amounts ranging from $4 for in-state undergraduates to $13 for out-of-state graduate students.

The cost to students will range from $107.50 per credit hour for in-state undergraduates to $216.50 per credit hour for out-of-state graduate students.

Included is an increase of 45 cents a credit hour to help fund the Center for Health and Counseling. The funding will pay for additional staff and expanded hours.

Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents, said the regents had no choice but to raise fees. Dickerson said a change in how the federal government calculates personal income has cut into funding for state government in Missouri under the Hancock Amendment. The amendment to the state constitution imposes a government spending lid based on total personal income in Missouri.

The change in the spending calculation will mean less additional revenue for state agencies, including colleges and universities, Dickerson said.

"When there is a big surprise and a big curve ball thrown, it brings a tough situation," he said. "We have to know there will be ups and downs like these."

Dickerson and other regents said they don't want to price students out of the market. Increased fees saddle students with higher student loans, which ultimately must be paid back, he said.

University officials said Southeast's fees are below those of its biggest competitors -- Truman State, University of Missouri-Columbia and Southwest Missouri State University.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast's executive vice president, said Southeast must offer academic programs that students want. "It is more than money in a lot of cases," he said.

Regent John Tlapek said the fee hikes didn't seem out of line with other schools.

The regents hiked room and board charges by varying amounts.

Room-rate hikes range from 5.3 percent for double-occupancy rooms in Towers North and West to 17.6 percent for rooms in three buildings for fraternities and sororities in Greek Housing.

Based on the new rates, annual room charges will range from $2,460 per person at Dearmont to $3,560 per person for double-occupancy rooms in Towers North and West.

Students will pay from $1,366 to $1,761 a year for campus meals depending on the meal plan. The increase is about 3 percent and reflects a new food service contract and expanded dining services.

Students living in the campus dorms also will pay a new residence hall fee of $15 per semester. The money will go to fund programs and activities in the residence halls.

Southeast estimates room and board charges will bring in about $7.8 million next school year. Dobbins said that is based on an average of 1,660 students living on campus.

That's well under the more than 2,100 students that could be housed in residence halls.

Dobbins said the university likely would have over 1,800 students in residence halls this fall. But the number always drops for the spring semester, he said in explaining the average figure.

"We are hoping we will have a higher average," Dobbins said.

Tlapek suggested the university could generate an added $1.6 million if 400 more students live on campus than anticipated.

Dobbins said the university hopes to encourage more students to live on campus. To do so, the university has renovated several residence halls in recent years. In addition, the university has implemented a system of trying to match students as roommates on the basis of student preferences. In the past, students were assigned rooms solely on the basis of when they enrolled.

Dickerson said the university hopefully could hold down fee increases next year if the residence halls have a higher occupancy rate.

The only fees that won't be going up are the rental rates for university-owned student apartments at 401 and 505 Washington. They will remain at the current level.

Dobbins said the 19 apartments are all rented, but there isn't a waiting list. The apartments rent for $260 to $345 a month.

Board of Regents

Agenda

Wednesday, March 24

Established a permanent PREP program. The program provides students who don't meet admission standards with a chance to take courses and ultimately enroll at Southeast.

Approved plans for the university to seek reaccreditation from the North Central Association.

Approved a timetable for a new strategic plan.

Adopted a five-year academic calendar.

Approved changes in agriculture, agribusiness, math and industrial technology programs.

Raised student fees.

Approved a senior citizen scholarship program.

Heard a report on revisions to the campus master plan.