JSU board raises tuition, housing prices
Bethany Harbison
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News
On Monday, April 14, the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees decided, in a unanimous vote on Resolution 515, to increase tuition for the first time in two years. Undergraduate tuition will shoot up 12.4 percent and graduate courses by 11 percent. The university's graduate and undergraduate distance learning courses will undergo a $50 per credit hour increase, and the cost of residence housing will shoot up 15 percent. The fee required when applying to JSU is also increasing from $20 to $30.
"These represent a significant increase that is not recommended lightly," President Dr. William Meehan said.
Meehan, in his address to the board, attributed the need for this year's steep price hike to the uneven cuts Gov. Bob Riley placed upon learning institutions across the state. Four-year colleges and universities like JSU face an average of 14 percent cuts, two-year institutions will be cut by 10 percent and the Alabama Department of Education's funds were cut by 6 percent. Among four-year institutions, the cuts were skewed. Troy University was dealt the lowest cut of 10.23 percent, and the University of West Alabama faces the lowest — 17.25 percent. JSU's funds will be reduced by $6,591,697, amounting to 13.36 percent.
Vice President for Administrative and Business Affairs Clint Carlson said in the meeting that the additional funds raised from increases in cost to students would generate approximately 3.8 million, roughly half the sum of money lost in the cut.
In order to continue operating on a comparable budget-and cope with the budget rising costs of retirement and health insurance-the university needs $45,884,645.
"We think (the increases) are reasonable, and we will still have to trim the budget," Meehan said, naming travel, positions and program expenditures as possible areas in which the university could cut costs.
Meehan explained that while Jacksonville State University is one of the first schools in the state to announce its increases in tuition and housing, he believed it was important to not wait.
"We want our faculty and students to have time to prepare," Meehan said.
The trustees also voted unanimously to proceed with the development of a campus-based transit system, which would be made available to JSU students and citizens of the surrounding community.
Meehan said JSU was awarded a $1,943,557 grant in September 2007 through the Federal Transportation Administration. The resolution authorized Meehan to provide the 20 percent institutional grant and engage a transportation consultant, and it also stated that the board will increase future tuition and fees to cover the transit system's continuing costs.
In other business, the board approved the following:
• Resolution 516, which sought to replace Brewer Hall's flat roof system with a new pitched roof system during the summer of 2008, a project estimated to cost about $250,000.
• Resolution 518, which sought to authorize Meehan to amend the university's annuity plan to include AIG-Retirement as a service provider.
New costs per credit hour
• In-state undergraduate — $190
• Out-of-state undergraduate — $380
• In-state graduate — $250
• Out-of-state graduate — $500
• Distance learning undergrad — $240
• Distance learning graduate — $300
"These represent a significant increase that is not recommended lightly," President Dr. William Meehan said.
Meehan, in his address to the board, attributed the need for this year's steep price hike to the uneven cuts Gov. Bob Riley placed upon learning institutions across the state. Four-year colleges and universities like JSU face an average of 14 percent cuts, two-year institutions will be cut by 10 percent and the Alabama Department of Education's funds were cut by 6 percent. Among four-year institutions, the cuts were skewed. Troy University was dealt the lowest cut of 10.23 percent, and the University of West Alabama faces the lowest — 17.25 percent. JSU's funds will be reduced by $6,591,697, amounting to 13.36 percent.
Vice President for Administrative and Business Affairs Clint Carlson said in the meeting that the additional funds raised from increases in cost to students would generate approximately 3.8 million, roughly half the sum of money lost in the cut.
In order to continue operating on a comparable budget-and cope with the budget rising costs of retirement and health insurance-the university needs $45,884,645.
"We think (the increases) are reasonable, and we will still have to trim the budget," Meehan said, naming travel, positions and program expenditures as possible areas in which the university could cut costs.
Meehan explained that while Jacksonville State University is one of the first schools in the state to announce its increases in tuition and housing, he believed it was important to not wait.
"We want our faculty and students to have time to prepare," Meehan said.
The trustees also voted unanimously to proceed with the development of a campus-based transit system, which would be made available to JSU students and citizens of the surrounding community.
Meehan said JSU was awarded a $1,943,557 grant in September 2007 through the Federal Transportation Administration. The resolution authorized Meehan to provide the 20 percent institutional grant and engage a transportation consultant, and it also stated that the board will increase future tuition and fees to cover the transit system's continuing costs.
In other business, the board approved the following:
• Resolution 516, which sought to replace Brewer Hall's flat roof system with a new pitched roof system during the summer of 2008, a project estimated to cost about $250,000.
• Resolution 518, which sought to authorize Meehan to amend the university's annuity plan to include AIG-Retirement as a service provider.
New costs per credit hour
• In-state undergraduate — $190
• Out-of-state undergraduate — $380
• In-state graduate — $250
• Out-of-state graduate — $500
• Distance learning undergrad — $240
• Distance learning graduate — $300
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 9
sharon Looney
posted 7/23/08 @ 8:05 PM CST
I think that the student at are taking courses on campus should have to pay the same thing as distance students because they are the one's getting hands on information and face to face lectures. (Continued…)
K. Whittaker
posted 9/02/08 @ 5:16 PM CST
As a distance learning student, I agree that traditional students should pay the same tuition, if not higher. Instructors of DL courses do a wonderful job of providing information and giving assignments that help you learn the material, but the bottom line is. (Continued…)
Carol
posted 9/17/08 @ 11:44 AM CST
I'm not taking any DL classes this term and I'm not sure if I will in the future due to the drastic increase in DL tuition. I cannot possibly imagine why DL tuition was raised so high, unless the college is spending a ridiculous amount on the blackboard system. (Continued…)
K. Whittaker
posted 10/10/08 @ 9:54 AM CST
I am surprised more DL students haven't commented on this issue. And I am wondering, are these articles and comments read by anyone (administration) that actually cares and could possibly suggest making a change?
With the ever-rising cost of living and my never-increasing salary, I don't know if I'll be able to finish my degree at this point. (Continued…)
Perhaps universities need more competition?
posted 10/11/08 @ 12:57 AM CST
Unfortunately, under the current system, universities are heavily subsidized and the rate of innovation is low. IMO, universities tend to be very slow in making changes and trying out new things or innovating. (Continued…)
Courtney Bailey
posted 3/16/09 @ 12:07 PM CST
That looks like lots of fun. When I was in college we didn't had so many fun activities.
Wilma Tisser
posted 3/21/09 @ 12:51 AM CST
Cheers for writing about this. FYI - here's some more info about watch bones you might like!
Bartlett Saus
posted 4/16/09 @ 4:42 PM CST
This article is amazing. I'm going to spend so much time procrastinating on here. I'm not quite sure if I should be thanking you, or cursing you
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