Board of Trustees approves
10 percent tuition
increase
By Dave Stephens
Editor
in Chief
Despite some stated reluctance, Purdue's Board
of Trustees unanimously approved a 10 percent tuition increase for all
students next year.
The increase, $416 for in-state and $1,388 for
out-of-state students, came as a result of the state of Indiana's budget
shortfall, which left Purdue with a projected loss of more than $100
million.
In addition to the 10 percent increase, incoming
students will pay a previously approved $1,000 fee increase.
The fee increases will generate $33.8 million in
revenue for the West Lafayette campus' 2002-2003 fiscal budget. The
10 percent increase marks one of the largest fee increases in Purdue
history and results in an increase of 81 percent for in-state tuition
during the last 10 years.
Trustee Wayne Townsend called the decision to raise
tuition one of the most difficult he's had to make but voted for the
increase because there were no other options.
"I'm terribly concerned about providing access
to Purdue. Our first challenge is finding resources for qualified students
of lesser means to attend Purdue University," said Townsend.
President Martin Jischke said that although the
fee increase was higher than he or the Board would have liked, it will
still not make up for the amount of funding Purdue is losing from the
state.
Jischke said Purdue will have to cut about 100
staff positions, provide only a 2 percent average salary increase and
delay all nonessential building repairs.
"I hope we don't have layoffs, but I can't promise
that," said Jischke. He said he expects the majority of position cuts
will be made by attrition — simply not filling vacant positions
and encouraging early retirement.
Jischke also said cutbacks in building repair funds
will result in physical plant workers being reassigned.
Even with the reduction in spending, Jischke reconfirmed
his commitment to Purdue's strategic plan, saying that the additional
$1,000 charged to new students will fund nearly $8 million to provide
for the hiring of 30 to 40 new faculty for teaching, as well as increase
student financial aid, faculty compensation, information technology,
study-abroad and diversity programs.
"We have stayed true to our promise we made to
new students — to stay true to our strategic ambitions," said Jischke.
Student body president Brenda Shea raised no objection
to the fee increase during her report to the trustees but afterward
called the tuition hike "disappointing."
Shea said, "I think students will be upset about
having to pay more. I don't want to see the door to Purdue be closed
to any students that are qualified and interested in attending, especially
for financial reasons."
Shea said she was pleased with Jischke and the
board's commitment to the strategic plan, saying the plan will benefit
the students.
"I don't think all students realize that the $1,000
increase for freshmen, and the10 percent (increase) will not go to staff
salaries and construction projects, but ultimately to their education,"
said Shea.
Jischke also pointed out that even with the increase
in tuition, the cost of a Purdue education is still less than the tuition
costs of some other Big Ten universities, especially as major tuition
increases are expected at institutions of higher learning across the
country.
Jischke said he doesn't expect the tuition increase
to have an adverse effect in Purdue's recruitment of new students —
calling the cost of tuition a wise investment.
That wise investment is what David Murphy, parent
of high school junior and prospective computer graphics student Sarah
Murphy, said he thinks about when he and his daughter visit colleges.
"The cost is important," said David, "but we're
more interested in finding the right school for (Sarah)."
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