BUDGET PANEL TO SEEK INCREASE IN TUITION FOR SOUTHEAST STUDENTS

Southeast Missouri State University wants to raise tuition by $4 a credit hour for in-state students and $8 a credit hour for out-of-state students for the 1995-96 academic year.

The Board of Regents will be asked to approve the tuition hikes at its March 20 meeting.

If approved, in-state undergraduates would pay $93 a credit hour in tuition and general fees to attend Southeast in the 1995-96 academic year, while out-of-state students would pay $168 a credit hour.

Talk of tuition hikes doesn't sit well with many students.

"Students don't like it," Student Government President Jason Crowell said Thursday.

Crowell said students can expect another increase in room and board charges, in addition to the proposed tuition hikes. The increase in room and board charges hasn't been determined.

Tuition hikes would raise about $750,000 in additional revenue, school officials said.

The added revenue, coupled with state appropriations, would cover increased costs due to inflation and fund a number of campus improvements.

The school's Budget Review Committee wants to use some of the money for computer improvements.

Crowell said the school needs to upgrade its computer equipment. "Southeast is in the dark ages in terms of technology."

But Crowell said school officials need to consider whether they are pricing area students out of a college education.

Crowell released a draft of a letter to Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast's executive vice president and the school's chief budget officer.

Crowell wrote, "Downsizing must be viewed as a viable option when dealing with revenue shortages. The university cannot allow the price of education to escalate to a level which excludes area students from affording a quality, four-year education."

Dobbins said the school is trying to keep student fees as low as possible, while continuing to improve the school.

Crowell said enrollment declines have aggravated the situation. "We want more students paying less, not fewer students paying more."

Dobbins said the university suffered a $700,000 revenue shortfall this fiscal year because of enrollment declines.

As a result, the school cut department budgets and reduced positions by not filling some vacancies.

"I don't think we are balancing the budget on the backs of the students," Dobbins said.

The tuition hike would amount to a 4.5 percent increase for in-state, undergraduate students, while out-of-state students would face a 5 percent hike, he said.

The school's 23-member Budget Review Committee of faculty, staff and students recommended the tuition hikes.

The committee is looking at funding proposals for computer improvements such as establishing another computer lab and setting up a computerized classroom, as well as increases in faculty and staff salaries.

Also being considered is a tutoring program to improve the school's retention of students.

Dobbins said the funding proposals total more than $1 million, excluding any salary hikes.

Dobbins said there won't be enough revenue to fund all the campus improvements.

The budget committee, he said, will have to make some hard choices when it meets April 4. By that time, the school should know about how much money it will receive from the state.

HISTORY OF FEES

Southeast Missouri State University tuition and general fees per academic year for in-state students, based on 30 credit hours:

1984-85, $775

1985-86, $925

1986-87, $1,105

1987-88, $1,210

1988-89, $1,300

1989-90, $1,420

1990-91, $1,490

1991-92, $1,826

1992-93, $2,138

1993-94, $2,434

1994-95, $2,670

1995-96* $2,790

* Figure includes proposed $4 a credit hour hike in tuition.

SOURCE: Southeast Missouri State University