Ball State University's governing board heard stories of accomplishment and challenges today as top school officials presented their plan for weathering another reduction in state funding.
President Jo Ann Gora outlined some of the school's recent accomplishments as the Board of Trustees opened its meeting.
But students will see a cost increase to make up part of a $13 million million drop in state funding for the next two years, Vice President for Business Affairs Randy Howard said.
"Tuition increases are never something we look forward to," Howard said. As announced previously, undergraduate tuition will rise 3.9 percent next year and 4.9 percent in 2012-13.
That compares with the 3 percent recommended by the Commission for Higher Education. Howard said the university disagrees with the commission's formula for arriving at that figure.
He noted that 12 percent of the state's general fund goes to higher education – compared with around 20 percent in earlier years.
Ball State will try to soften the effect of tuition increases with a 9 percent increase in university scholarships. But Howard said the school faces difficult choices as it seeks to maintain educational standards.
"It's a delicate balancing act," he said. "We want to make it affordable, but we have to fund the type of education students demand."
Some board members asked whether the increases, $342 and $422 in the next two years, were actually high enough.
The board approved the suggested increase after some discussion.
"I think we've met our state obligation," said board president Hollis Hughes. "I defy anyone who says they can do it cheaper."
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