Students could see tuition and fees increase 3.9 percent next fall and 4.9 percent the following year, based on recommendations announced Saturday.
"The revenue raised by the proposed increase is necessary to fund the university's operating budget," said Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president of Marketing and Communication, via email.
State appropriations to the university were cut last month by $11.8 million, or 5.2 percent. State funding decreased 11 percent in the past five years, Proudfoot said, and the current amount is equivalent to appropriation levels from 2002.
The proposed changes would represent a $162 increase in tuition and fees for resident undergraduates next academic year and a $211 increase for 2012-2013. The amounts will be discussed during a public forum at 11 a.m. on May 31 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Forum Room.
The same presentation will be given to the Board of Trustees at its June meeting, according to an email from Proudfoot.
"I believe this is the right decision for our students and the university," said Randy Howard, vice president of Business Affairs and treasurer, in a statement. "The proposal strikes the delicate balance between the affordability of a Ball State education and the quality of a Ball State degree."
Howard suggested increasing the cost of graduate-level courses during a Board of Trustees meeting on May 6, but this wasn't addressed in Saturday's announcement.
"One of our greatest challenges," Howard said, "is that, when compared to our peers, we are already very efficient in staffing, health care, salaries and energy consumption — our largest budget items.
"We continue to seek our budget reductions, find efficiencies and save real dollars."
Public forum
WHAT- Presentation about proposed increases in tuition and fees as a result in decreased state funding
WHEN- 11 a.m. on May 31
WHERE- L.A. Pittenger Student Center Forum Room
By the numbers
- 3.9 percent- proposed increase in student tuition and mandatory fees for 2011-2012 academic year
- 4.9 percent- proposed increase for 2012-2013 academic year
- $162- the proposed total increase each semester for 2011-2012 academic year for a full-time resident undergraduate student
- $211- the proposed total increase each semester for 2012-2013 academic year
- $8,234- current tuition and fees for 2010-2011 for resident undergraduates
- $8,558- proposed tuition and fees for resident undergraduates for 2011-2012
- $8,980- proposed tuition and fees for resident undergraduates for 2012-2013
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