Budget plan to increase
student fees next school year
By Kurt Esposito
Summer
Editor
The Purdue Board of Trustees approved a 2001-2002
conceptual budget plan that will increase basic fees 7.5 percent —
which translates into an increase of $292 a year for in-state students
and $968 for out-of-state students.
"I think its really unfortunate; nobody, from parents
to students, likes to see fees increase," said student body president
Brenda Shea.
The changes will take effect in July, once the
next fiscal year starts. Starting in the fall, in-state students will
pay $4,164 a year and out-of-state students will pay $13,872 a year.
It is the largest increase since the 1992-93 school
year when in-state tuition rose 8.4 percent and out-of-state tuition
rose 10.1 percent.
"Hopefully we won't lose any top students because
of this," said Shea. "That'd be really unfortunate if we lost them."
Joe Bennett, vice president for University Relations,
said the increases were made as a result of the budget given to Purdue
by the Indiana State Legislature.
"The biggest issue, of course, is quality,"
he said. "Although the state made education a high priority, they
really were in a very difficult position because of a decrease in revenue.
They were not able to give the funds we had hoped for and I think the
funds they would have liked to have given us."
He said the increases ensure that Purdue will be
able to maintain the level of education it offers and retain its faculty.
He said as many as 200 faculty members have received offers from other
institutions.
"I believe they did the best they could to give
a 3 percent increase to faculty and staff," said Shea. "If it goes towards
that it must be justified."
Bennett said cuts had to be made for some of the
operating budgets for some of the units of the University, which affects
their budgets for supplies and expenses. He said it may make it slightly
difficult for some departments to operate, but "I don't think it will
have an impact on the quality of education, which is our main goal."
Despite the increase, Bennett said Purdue will
still have lower fees than most of the public Big Ten Universities.
During the 2000-2001 school year, among Big Ten
schools, Purdue ranked eighth in tuition for undergraduate residents
and seventh in tuition for undergraduate nonresident students.
Shea said she understands why the University raised
tuition, but adds, "hopefully we'll be able to wait awhile before they
raise fees again."
Bennett said increases like this will not occur
every year.
Last year's tuition was increased only 4 percent
of in-state students and 4.5 percent for out-of-state students. It was
the lowest increase since the 1976-77 school year.
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