YSU Board balks at raising tuition

The university has lost $7.5 million in state funding in three years, as tuition has jumped about 20 percent.
By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State University trustees have told the university president they won't pass the 10 percent tuition increase he has proposed unless they're satisfied that other cost-saving options have been considered.
Dr. David C. Sweet, president, presented the trustees with a projected 2004 budget showing an $8.1 million shortfall. A 10 percent tuition increase would reduce the shortfall to $2.4 million.
It also would mean that tuition at YSU would jump by $500 a year, rising from $4,996 to $5,496, effective this summer.
It's in the programs
"I truly believe that we recruit students based on the quality of the programs we offer," Sweet told trustees Thursday. "And to maintain and enhance the quality of the programs we offer, we have to invest.
"Why are students going to Kent State University and Ohio State University, our main competitors? I'm suggesting that they're not going there because of tuition but because of the programs they offer."
Sweet added that 80 percent of YSU students receive some sort of financial aid. Approving tuition and fees now will give the university an opportunity to better inform students about financial aid options, he said.
The trustees' finance and facilities committee was expected to make a recommendation Thursday to the full board regarding the tuition plan, but committee chairman Larry E. Esterly said no action would be taken.
State funding declines
The university lost $3 million in state funding in fiscal year 2001 and again in 2002, said Terry Ondreyka, YSU's vice president for financial affairs. The allocation for this fiscal year was reduced by an additional $1.5 million.
Next year's forecast calls for no funding increase from the state.
In an effort to make up past losses, trustees raised tuition 5.1 percent in fall 2001, 5.5 percent this past spring and 8.9 percent this fall.
Trustee F.W. Knecht III suggested that the university search for other ways to cut costs, such as personnel reductions or asking employees to pay portions of health-care insurance premiums.
Student trustees Jeffrey Parks and Matthew Pastier agreed, suggesting that Sweet present them with other options before raising tuition.
"What would be the result?" Parks asked. "Would it be a cut in classes? Would it be a cut in resources?"
But Trustee Charles Cushwa said personnel resources have already been "cut to the bone."
"This isn't the first time we've been around this barn," he said. "If we're looking to cut employees, I think we're going to seriously cut into the core of the operating ability of the university."
Thinking ahead
Dr. Chander Kohli, trustee, said that he does not believe the university can get by without raising tuition but that the board must find another way to fund education in the future.
"Somehow something has to give, or we are going to be in the same situation next year," he said.
In a related matter, the committee also discussed a proposed restructuring of student fees. The change would begin this summer and generate $1.1 million for the University to be used for technology purposes ($900,000) and for student activities ($200,000), Ondreyka said.
Based on current tuition rates, the restructuring would:
U Assess all tuition at a uniform $205-per-credit hour rate. Ondreyka said this would create savings for part-time students taking fewer than 12 credit hours per term.
U Eliminate across-the-board multiservice and technology fees and replace them with administrative fees for freshmen only, and technology fees for all higher-level students. The administrative fee would be $6 per credit hour. The technology fee would be $10 per credit hour. (Fees are less per credit for students taking more than 16 credit hours.)
U Charge a freshman taking 9 credit hours a total of $1,899 per term; a higher-level student would pay $1,935. Twelve hours would cost a freshman $2,532 per term, and other students, $2,580.
U Eliminate freshmen orientation fees.
The committee will meet again to make a final decision on the recommendations Dec. 18 before the full board meeting slated for that day.