April 19, 2005 – Susan Hammons

Regents approve increases in tuition, fees, room and board

NACOGDOCHES-Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents Monday approved tuition and fee and room and board increases expected to generate an additional $5.7 million in revenues in 2005-2006(far short of the more than $11 million that would be required to fund what administrators have deemed critical needs for the coming year.

Dr. Roland Smith, vice president for business affairs, said during the board telephone meeting that it is too soon to know whether the university will receive additional revenue from the state next year. A Texas Senate proposal would bring $3 million additional to SFA, while a House version would result in a slight decrease from the current funding level. "Realistically, we will come in somewhere between those," Smith said.

Administrators will be looking for ways to trim expenses, including energy conservation measures, when setting the 2005-2006 budget, he said.

Beginning in fall 2005, designated tuition, currently $64 per semester hour, will increase to $76. A preliminary survey of Texas public universities found that at least 10 or 11 out of 34 would have higher rates than SFA next year, Smith said. Of the $3.6 million generated by the $12 increase, 20 percent will go toward financial aid.

Statutory tuition, over which the university has no control, is currently $48 per semester hour and will increase to $50.

The tuition and fee increases mean SFA students taking 15 semester hours will pay an average of $217, or 9.88 percent, more per semester. Students living on campus will see an average increase of $241, or 9.68 percent, in room and board per semester.

Regents approved increases to a number of course fees. They also approved three new fees: a $25 Early Childhood Lab application fee; a $25 graduate student application fee for programs that did not already have the fee; and a $100 educator certification program admission fee, which will fund electronic portfolios to demonstrate student outcomes and possibly serve as a pilot program for the rest of the university.

Regents also approved an increase, effective summer 2006, in the concurrent enrollment fee for high school students receiving SFA credit. Currently, they pay $50 per course. With the change they will pay $25 per semester hour, or $75 for the typical three semester hour course. Dr. Mary Cullinan, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the increased amount is still less than what Angelina College charges concurrently enrolled students.

The student service fee, which supports numerous student organizations and programs such as cheerleaders, pom squad and multicultural, health and wellness centers, will increase from the current $10 per semester credit hour to $10.50.

The board also authorized the university to charge a one-time fee to students who owe the university money and establish a repayment agreement. The university also will charge 5 percent interest to those who fail to make payments. The policy is similar to that already in place for short-term loans and will give students a chance to repay delinquent accounts before they are referred to a collection agency.