Dionte Berry
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Cady Stribling
News Editor
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A special Board of Regents was called into session via Zoom on Friday, April 23, and they began the meeting by swearing in a new member.
After being sworn in, Robert Fitch expressed his thanks to the Board and congratulated the rest of the members on making it through a school year like none other with COVID-19. The board also re-elected vice-chair Eric Crigler and Secretary Jill Hunt.
Committee Report: Finance Committee
Regent Leon Owens discussed the authorization of the 2021-2022 tuition and mandatory fee rates.
Discussing tuition, President Bob Jackson said it was important to remain competitive with other school’s tuition and fiscally secure. The Board members voted to approve up to a 1% tuition and mandatory fees increase for the fiscal year of 2021-2022. The increase could mean around $650,000 more in revenue.
“Access and affordability is vitally important to Murray State University and it’s an area we have focused on for the last few years,” Jackson said.
The tuition increase will be discussed at the next Board of Regents meeting.
Faculty Regent Melony Shemberger asked what impact a 1% increase would have and how the additional funds would be used.
Jackson said the additional revenue would amount to around $650,000 and could be instrumental in funding preservation and renovation projects as well as offering faculty and staff raises.
Shemberger said an increase may have a negative impact on enrollment.
“Although a 1% jump may not sound like much to many people, when you put in the context of tuition the meaning is going to vary,” Shemberger said. “That 1% could be the difference between, ‘do I pay for a semester worth of education? Or do I take care of that portion of rent? Buying groceries for a week? Or even taking care of a family member’s medical payments?”
Shemberger said the competitiveness seen in graduate enrollment and increase in tuition could steer potential students from Murray State. She said the timing of this possible increase could cause a strain for people still going through effects of the pandemic.
“The pandemic has become the central reason for much of this and I don’t think that right now is the time for any tuition or fee increase,” Shemberger said. “I think approving this recommendation sends a negative message to prospective and current students at all levels.”
Shemberger said the Board should explore other approaches to bringing in more funds beyond just bringing up tuition, such as budgeting.
In response Jackson said throughout the pandemic Murray State has already taken $7 million out of the budget, and that a 1% increase would be around $60-65 increase per student . He also clarifies that the increase may be up to 1% and is not set at 1%.
SGA President Warren Norman agreed with Shemberger and said he has heard from undergraduate and graduate students and offered a student perspective on the issue.
“I believe that we should be as competitive as possible with our rates and that it is extremely important for us to keep our rates the same for another especially after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Norman said.
Upon voting Shemberger and Norman were the only Regents to vote against the possible increase of tuition.
Housing and Dining Rates
Jackson recommended to the board a zero percent rate increase for housing fees during the 2021-22 fiscal year. The Board unanimously approved the motion, and it will go into effect in the upcoming fall semester.
Jackson recommended approving Sodexo’s contractually granted inflationary increase of 3.35% for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
Upon signing with Sodexo in Fall 2018, the contract stated that it’s possible for the increase of dining rates, because of food inflation.
The board approved the dining rates and meal plans, but both Shemberger and Norman voted against the increase.
The next Board of Regents meeting will be held in June.
