SEMO's board of regents to consider tuition increase today

Southeast Missouri State University students would pay $10 more per credit hour under a proposed 4.79 percent tuition increase set to go before the institution's board of regents today.

The cost per credit hour for undergraduate Missouri residents enrolled at Southeast in the 2011-2012 academic year would rise to $218.50. Students taking 15 credits would pay an additional $150 per semester.

It's a tuition increase crafted out of an improved state funding picture and a Senate bill aimed at checking the cost of a college education.

The university's budget review committee -- made up of administration, faculty, staff and students -- recommends regents hold any tuition increase at no higher than 5 percent.

Tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year includes $3 in incidental fee increases and $7 in higher general fees. The general fee includes $2 in fees to cover the cost of Southeast's student aquatic center that have been waived over the past two years; the remaining $5 is to help pay for the university's massive campuswide improvement plan, paid for through the issuance of nearly $60 million in bonds.

Students could have taken a bigger hit. Under the proposal, the university would waive $5.25 per credit hour on fiscal year 2012 if the board of regents accepts the budget review committee's recommendation.

"These fees could be assessed in future years over and above the Senate Bill 389 annual limitation," university documents say, referring to the Missouri Senate's measure that eased proposed state budget cuts on higher education while holding tuition increases at the rate of the Consumer Price Index.

The appropriations climate has changed considerably since late last year, when state funding cuts to higher education in fiscal year 2012 were projected as high as 20 percent. Gov. Jay Nixon then recommended a 7 percent reduction, or a $3.3 million hit to Southeast's budget. The Senate pitched a 4.8 percent reduction but a conference committee reconciled House and Senate versions at 5.8 percent in a final measure that awaits the governor's signature.

Patrick Vining, newly elected president of Southeast Student Government, said the committee and Student Government worked hard to minimize the impact.

"Everyone is always upset when they have to pay more, but I think the general student understands that we are getting a good product here," Vining said. "I think students are willing to pay their part."

Missouri institutions this year quickly moved to thaw a two-year tuition freeze, following the expiration of an agreement with Nixon to hold off steep state funding cuts. Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins said in February that he expected tuition to increase 4 to 5 percent.

Despite the smaller funding cuts, the legislature's FY2012 budget trims about $2.4 million in appropriations to Southeast, from $44.7 million to $42.3 million.

To meet state funding reductions, Southeast is engaged in finding $20 million in savings from its $120 million general operating budget -- either in revenue increases like program offerings or expense cuts like the mandated 5 percent budget reductions this year and next at in all operating divisions.

Kathy Mangels, Southeast vice president for finance and administration, said the university will never completely meet the steep declines in funding through student fees. Doing so, she said, would defeat Southeast's mission of keeping college accessible and affordable.

"We know that this can't be made up on the backs of students," Mangels said.

The budget review committee had been working with assumptions based on Nixon's original 7 percent cuts, so the university's budget projections have improved by about $715,000 thanks to the legislature's eased appropriation reductions. Mangels said the idea is to use part of that money, about $265,000, for a proposed salary increase for Southeast staff. Wages have been frozen over the past two years. Related to that, the board will consider a motion to change the funding formula for faculty merit increases, boosting potential compensation.

"We want to make sure that we're doing what we can to provide salaries and benefits that still make Southeast a place that they want to stay and work with our students," Mangels said. Student Government was supportive of "increasing fees slightly so we could take care of trying to retain our quality faculty," she said.

Southeast regents meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

mkittle@semissourian.com

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