The Ball State University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the university's budget and tuition and fees increase for the upcoming school year on Friday.
Normally this happens in May, but because the General Assembly did not pass a budget until June 30 it didn't happen until Friday's board meeting. Ball State has been operating on a temporary continuing resolution authorizing spending until the new budget was approved.
The board approved the tuition and fee increases that the administration proposed. Mandatory fees include the technology fee, health services fee, and recreation fee.
Tuition and mandatory fees for in-state students, which were $7,500 for 2008-09, will increase 4.4 percent this upcoming school year to $7,830. It will also increase 4.9 percent the following year to $8,214. Out-of-state residents, which paid $19,304 in 2008-09, will tuition and fees increase 5.66 percent this school year to $20,396 and 6.22 percent in 2010-11 to $21,664.
The board also approved several other fee changes that do not affect all students. The board authorized the university to create a fee of $12 or less for copies of official student transcripts. which would not apply to current students.
The board approved these increases without asking any questions following about a 30 minute presentation from Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer Randy Howard.
The board also approved a budget for 2009-10, which projects expenditures will increase 1.9 percent.
While university's operating appropriation from the state for the next two years is about the same as last year, Howard said about $5 million of that is from one-time federal stimulus money. This stimulus money will not be available after 2010.
Howard also said the university has found $3.76 million in recurring savings during the last few years and will allocate $3.54 million of that money to strategic plan initiatives.
Ball State President Jo Ann Gora expressed regret that the university could not offer general or merit salary increases this year to faculty members who are underpaid compared to peers. She said pay increases to attract and retain quality faculty are a key element of the strategic plan.
However, the new budget includes about $90,000 for tenure-track faculty members who are promoted this school year.
The board also authorized Ball State's participation in the Midwest Student Exchange Program. The program allows students from Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin to enroll at Ball State and pay about 50 percent more than in-state tuition. Indiana students are allowed to do the same at participating institutions in those states.
It also authorized the Indiana Ohio Reciprocity Agreement, which is being renegotiated at the state level. This action allows the university to offer a similar program if the agreement is not renewed in coming years.
The board approved construction of the Marilyn K. Glick Center for Glass and the Central Campus Academic Project.
The Glick Center for Glass, which is projected to open by Fall 2010, will be funded by a portion of a gift from The Glick Fund.
The Central Campus Academic Project will include renovations to North Quad, Teacher's College and the Applied Technology buildings.
The board approved $33 million to be spent for the first phase. This phase will include infrastructure work on all buildings, all North Quad renovations and the beginning of renovations to Teacher's College.
In addition, Provost Terry King recommended three new degree programs. The authorization allows the university to continue the process of creating and accrediting the programs.
The board approved a proposal for a Master of Fine Arts and Visual Arts. The program will initially offer specialties in Glass and Electronic Art and Animation.
The board also approved a Masters in Applied Behavioral Analysis, which will be taught entirely online. King said the program is designed to help fill the shortage of behavior analysts in the state.
A proposal to turn the Sports Administration program - an option of the Exercise Science major - into a stand-alone major was also approved. The degree requirements will be the same, but students will be required to take a minor offered by the Miller College of Business.
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