SEMO regents may raise tuition for graduate students

While Missouri undergraduate students will pay the same tuition at Southeast Missouri State University next year, graduate students face percentage increases in the double digits.

The board of regents is scheduled to meet Saturday after commencement. The board will set tuition and increase other fees as the university works toward accommodating budget shortfalls in the next two years. Special committees were set up to trim the budget and find ways to enhance revenue.

According to the budget passed by the Missouri Legislature, in-state undergraduates at public universities will not have to cope with climbing tuition. Gov. Jay Nixon made an agreement with university presidents to freeze tuition while cutting higher education funding by 5 percent.

At Southeast, Missouri students will pay $208.50 per credit hour for the third year. Nonresident students face a $10 increase to $373 per credit hour. That equals a 2.9 percent increase.

Missouri and nonresident graduate tuition is set to increase by 11.4 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively. Missouri students would pay $261 per credit hour and nonresident students would pay $465.50 per credit hour.

While graduate students overall face a big increase, a $250 program fee charged to students in nursing and communication disorders programs will be eliminated.

The increases are expected to generate $275,000. The university's budget review committee has been charged with identifying $2 million in increased revenue.

Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins said he does not think the increase for graduate students will affect enrollment. He said the rates are in line with other institutions.

"We always try to look at the market," he said.

In-state graduate tuition at Truman State University, Missouri State University and the University of Missouri in Columbia are projected to be $288.65, $224, $313.64 per credit hour, respectively, according to university documents.

The board will also consider a special course fee of $30 per credit hour for high-cost undergraduate programs. The fee would be charged for courses in athletic training, computer science and nursing. The extra fee is expected to generate $184,000.

The board will also consider a fee of $12.50 per credit hour on webinar courses. Part of the fee will generate money to train faculty to teach and use technology for the webinar courses, Dobbins said.

The regents will meet at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the dance studio of the Student Recreation Center-North.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO