Tuition increase expected while some students are paying less
If every Grant-in-Aid student is taking 12 credits this semester, that means there is $289,497.60 less in tuition revenue for the fall 2008 semester. Here are comparisons to some cut programs:
- The marching band operates on about a $250,000 annual budget.
- Both writing and math centers operate on about a combined $300,000 annual budget.
- The Greek life office operates on about a $63,000 annual budget.
- About $75,000 in student tutor wages was cut from the tutoring center, which caused the center to start charging.
University of Nevada, Reno students should expect a tuition increase as the state tries to solve its budget shortfall, Nevada legislators and regents said. But while all students face the possibility of higher fees, others continue to receive tuition discounts.
Dependents of temporary faculty, professional staff members and retired staff members are eligible for Grant-in-Aid, a policy that charges them about $100 less per credit.
Chancellor Jim Rogers is focused on increasing revenue of the Nevada System of Higher Education budget, but the Grant-in-Aid policy will likely not change, officials said.
In a Monday press conference, NSHE Chancellor Jim Rogers said increasing tuition by slightly more than 25 percent amount could raise $50 million per year.
NSHE could also raise revenue by charging all students full tuition. Assuming that the Grant-in-Aid students are taking 12 credits, there would be about $289,497 more if they paid regular tuition.
Vice Chancellor Dan Klaich said Grant-in-Aid is not a top consideration for cuts, but “everything is going to be on the table” including raising tuition.
“One hundred percent of our efforts are going toward that (raising revenue),” Klaich said. “But it’s too early to say (if tuition will increase). It ultimately is going to depend on how much needs to be cut.”
Klaich said he has no idea how much tuition would rise if an increase were to happen.
As decided in April, a $5 surcharge started this semester and a 5 percent increase will be added to students’ tuition beginning in fall 2009 to combat budget shortfalls.
“It’s probably inevitable and it’s going to be discussed,” Regent Steve Sisolak said about possible increases.
If each of the estimated 240 students benefiting from Grant-in-Aid program are taking 12 credits and instead paid full price, the extra tuition dollars would equal the amount needed to keep the marching band operating for a year, the writing and math centers open for a year or the Greek life office open for four years.
While higher education officials slash programs and discuss increasing tuition, they aren’t considering charging the dependents of faculty members full price.
“I’ve heard of nothing about us changing that,” UNR Provost Marc Johnson said about Grant-in-Aid policy. “I don’t anticipate us taking that away. It’s a faculty benefit that has been here for some time.”
Taking away benefits coupled with Gov. Jim Gibbons’ suggestions to decrease faculty salary benefits could cause employees to work at other universities, he said.
“It would be devastating because our primary constituents are the students and the primary producers are the faculty,” Johnson said. “That would just knock a hole in our ability to teach and do research.”
Dale Rogers, who teaches logistics and supply chain management, has two children that attend UNR. He said lower tuition for his children attracted him to teach at the university.
“One of the things that helps keep me here is the fact that there’s a break on tuition,” Rogers said. “If that benefit disappeared, I would really have to think about if it made sense for me to keep working here.”
Jessica Fryman can be reached at jfryman@nevadasagebrush.com.
By the numbers
Estimates for fall 2008240: dependents of UNR faculty use Grant-in-Aid
133.50: dollars for a normal undergraduate credit hour
32.98: dollars for a Grant-in-Aid undergraduate credit hour
24,124.80: fewer tuition dollars if every Grant-in-Aid student only takes one credit
289,497.60: fewer tuition dollars if every Grant-in-Aid student takes 12 credits
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November 18th, 2008 at 8:40 am
This is in keeping with The Leader’s ’spirit of sacrifice’ he spoke of in his victory speech. The ones that work must pay more to help those with less.
November 18th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I’m ok with the idea of tuition increases, Nevada has one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation. Honestly if they raise tuition maybe we will filter out some of the idiots that get to go to school here. However if we are going to raise tuition then all of the money needs to stay on campus. As it sits now only 40 cents from every dollar that we pay for tuition stays on campus. The only 60 cents goes to the state general fund.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
There are a couple facts that this article is missing.
1) Students who receive the Grant-in-Aid pay all other fees including the counseling fee, the health center and all other fees that are not included in tuition. This also includes the upcoming ASUN fee of $5 per credit, so these student’s aren’t getting a free ride.
2) This article totally misses the fact that even if all 200 or so people who get this paid full tuition, not all of that tuition would go straight to the University. In reality, of the supposed $289,497.60 that is being “lost”, only get around $115,799.04 would MAYBE come to the University. This is because out of the tuition that we as students pay only about 40% actually goes to the University. Not to mention the fact the money is spread out over the entire University. So by implying that these people are preventing programs such as the math and writing center/tutoring/greek life from being funded is completely unfair.
Not to mention the fact that this program was instituted to encourage faculty and administrative faculty to come and work at this University. If you take that incentive away, all your doing is denying students the best teachers.
3) I know of at least one students who receives Grant-in-Aid who’s parent is being cut during this budget cut. So it’s not like these people are sitting on some high horse totally unaffected by the budget crunch.
Overall, the Sagebrush really failed to be unbiased in this article. It is presented in a way that portrays an elite class of individuals who are getting special treatment during these hard times for the University. If this article was done in an unbiased manner they would have shown that this is an extremely small percentage of people on campus. And the lack of money that they pay in comparison to the entire university budget is very small. The article also is damning of these individuals by saying that THEY are the reason why programs were cut and if only these people didn’t exist or if this program didn’t exist, the University would be great! I hate to tell you but even if they denied these individuals their contractually obligated tuition waiver it would help very little in this budget crisis we are in. Think of this, there are over 12,000 or so students at this university…of that 12,000 we’re talking about 200. This would be like the sagebrush saying “damn those people who get general fund scholarships!! Damn damn damn them, they are taking money away from the University, THEY are the reason we won’t have a math center.” Oh wait, they wouldn’t say that because that’s like 60% of the University population, and it’s much easier to pick on a small group of individuals who have confidential identities under FERPA and who can’t be interviewed because of that confidentiality. And it’s so easy to pick on small groups of people who can’t fight back.
Way to go Sagebrush, you really are the champion of the little man.
November 18th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I wholeheartedly second Taylor’s comments.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:34 am
What is missing here is that the grant-in-aid money that is given to faculty and staff enables the university to receive higher caliber faculty. If I was a professor and I had a son that was about to go to college and I was deciding where I wanted to do my research and work, I would go to a school that has this type of program.
If the university would get all of the 289,000 dollars (which they wouldn’t)discussed, that would be 4% of the total budget cut for the university or 1/5 of one percent of the total university budget. Having this money would do nothing to combat the budget cuts. It is kind of interesting that the editors think this is news. How it was written and all of the opinions in the article make this a “perspective”
November 19th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
This piece is horribly unbalanced. It’s a little disappointing the Sagebrush leadership has decided, repeatedly, to tell the parts of the story that serve their ends.
I understand the desire to take stands on an issue that is going to drastically harm this University, but if you don’t maintain journalistic integrity your opinion matters little.
As far as only getting to keep forty cents on the dollar, that is not really true. While the state does get 60 cents of every credit dollar, they also fund about 80% of the overall University budget. And even if they cut 20% from the budget, the University is still being subsidized by the state.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:32 am
I would be for hiked tuition fees if the University thought of other ways to save money.
What about season tickets that are given to people and businesses because they donate time or work to the University. Not one ticket, but SEASON tickets!
Shouldn’t they believe in supporting UNR and instead of expecting good seats. Better yet, shouldn’t the University believe it that too. I volunteer and I get upset every time I hear someone say they get their points or seats because of how much time they give to the University.
BARTER? State workers can’t do it, why can the University do it? Shoot, why do I need to buy my season tickets when I can just barter like everybody else.
What happen to not expecting anything for doing good. The University should have them pay for tickets and see if they still get that love. If they don’t get the love, maybe more tickets would be sold and a new loved one will step to the plate
And while I’m on it….five flat screen tv’s, leather couches etc in the mens locker room? Bah
November 25th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
The numbers here are a little skewed as faculty and staff that work on campus are not permitted to take more than 6 credits a semester. Spouses and dependents are permitted to take more but thought I would it point.
November 25th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
What about: Athletics are paid by PRIVATE funds, not state dollars.
If grant-in-aid is taken away, well, let’s just say that we will get what we (don’t) pay for: Crap professors and TA’s as they will go elsewhere to teach instead of Nevada…