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News

Faculty Senate tackles tuition

Body, administrators discuss budget for 2007; 
Gogue outlines methods to increase enrollment

by REBECCA DAOUD
The Daily Cougar 

The University's budget shortfalls during fiscal year 2006 led to a discussion about increased tuition and fees at Wednesday's Faculty Senate meeting.

The UH Board of Regents will meet Tuesday to discuss a 9.9 percent increase in tuition and fees for FY 2007. Tuition makes up 6.6 percent of the increase, and 3.3 percent of the increase will cover rising energy costs.

The University will encourage graduate student enrollment by setting aside $666,514 for graduate assistant tuition fellowships.

UH will allocate $459,117 for a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools re-accreditation team. Twelve student advisers will be hired to help undeclared students.

Thirty faculty members will be hired, and will cost the University $3 million. Also, current faculty and staff will receive a mid-year raise, which will average around 2 percent of their salaries..

"This raise will depend on luck, in reference to utility costs, and enrollment issues, especially recruiting at the graduate level," Donald Foss, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said.

UH President Jay Gogue addressed four principle points concerning increasing enrollment at the University.

"Multiple enrollment points throughout the 12-month period of time, filling in gaps between disciplines when looking at degree offerings, bringing in groups of students rather than individuals and retaining the students the University already has are all ways we can accommodate students and increase enrollment," Gogue said.

Foss said keeping enrollment stable and increasing the number of students who stay in school are important.

"We need to start with the students we do have, possibly changing the drop policy to help students stay on track. That way, we will decrease the chance of students having 30 semester hours over their required degree hours, causing them to have to spend more money on tuition," Foss said.

Gogue said the campus is getting a fresh look from external planners assisting in developing a campus master plan. The planners advise University officials about the future of the campus. 

On April 14, the Texas Legislature will go into special session to address the reduction of property taxes in school grades kindergarten through 12, and that may lead to tuition revenue bonds. Gogue said the University is looking forward to the session.

Congress already approved renovations of three buildings on campus, totaling approximately $60 million.

Gouge also addressed disaster preparations at the University.

"Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there has been a group of 30 people who have been meeting to plan for future catastrophes and disasters, and there is a lot of thinking, planning and effort going into it," Gogue said.

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