Going up uiargonaut.com
Over the past 10 years (tuition) almost doubled, and that’s an unfortunate reality of higher education across the nation. I’m excited to see the increase be under 5 percent, which we haven’t seen for several years now. Max Cowan, ASUI president
Tuition increase proposed, less than 5 percent Ryan Tarinelli Argonaut
Chloe Rambo Argonaut
BOISE — A second-year law school program in Boise and a 2 percent salary increase were granted to the University of Idaho following the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee meeting Thursday. Other state budget allocations for Idaho’s four-year colleges and universities were set Thursday by JFAC — the legislature’s budget-writers — to offer a 7 percent increase in total funds for higher education in Idaho. The allocation is a bit higher than Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s original 6.4 percent increase recommendation. Now that motions have been passed for the post-secondary education, JFAC co-chair Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said budget-writers are on track to complete the state’s 2015 fiscal year budget by Friday, their target date. “We’re in the final two days — we hope — of setting budgets,” Cameron said Thursday. “We’ll have a few (other budget items) come up, but we’re going to push to get through this agenda, so we can push through tomorrow’s agenda.” The original motion to include a 2 percent salary increase — with 1 percent instated as a permanent raise and the other 1 percent as a one-time bonus for employees — as supplied by $3.7 million in general funds and $2.7 million from other state funding sources, passed by an 18-1 vote in JFAC.
Sustainability Center $11 Swim Center $10 Women’s Center $11.20 LGBQTA $3 Violence Prevention Program $8 Student Orientation $8 Minority Student Programs $6 Early Childhood $15.30 Counseling and Testing Center $29.90 Campus Life $2 Alcohol Education $2.90 Student Health Services $81.60 Student Alumni Relations Board $2 Spirit Squad $6 Sales Tax (event tickets) $3.22 Performing Arts $4 Outdoor Programs $2 Native American Student Center $1.50 Mem Gym Cage $6.50 Marching Band $14.50 Kibbie Center Operations $55.76
SEE budget, PAGE 5
Intercollegiate Athletics $255.92
Representation in regents ASUI supports formation of representative boards for each of Idaho’s public universities
8.4 6.5 5
2008-9
Hannah Shirley Argonaut
5
4.7
2012-13
2011-12
2010-11
2009-10
4
2006-7
In a resolution sent to University of Idaho administration and state legislators, ASUI declared the need for an institutional Board of Regents to supplement student representation at the state level. The issue came to the attention of ASUI following the State Board of Education December decision to remove the requirement for student input to changes to the Statement of Student Rights, according to ASUI President Max Cowan. Cowan said this was when he realized the need for better student representation. “Why should the State Board of Education, a body from all across the state that deals with K-12 through doctoral, be able to decide what the Statement of Student Rights at the University of Idaho says?” Cowan said. “There is another way to do it — for instance, other states have regents for their institutions. Those regents are in charge of policy decisions for each institution, and connects university advocates to university interests.” Cowan coordinated the Student Voice Petition earlier this year, which he said has been well received by students. Despite student enthusiasm though, Cowan said the case for student representation isn’t one that can be solved overnight. “First we need to be able to come together as students and all agree, which is a task in and of itself,” Cowan said. “Then we need to be able to mobilize a group to put our voices together to get combined weight by signing this petition. With enough energy, anything can happen. We can get movement and support from all the different institutions across the state, and once that happens we need to talk to state legislature ... it is by no means an easy task. But I don’t think the challenges are insurmountable, and I think it’s exciting to be involved in addressing directly concerns we have.”
Fine Arts $6
6.1
Proposed
5
2007-8
5.8
6
0
CEC, second year law school approved by JFAC
9.5
9.25
8
2
JFAC sets budget
SEE tuition, PAGE 5
2013-14
10
2005-6
Tuition/student fee rate of increase (percent)
In his first move as University of Idaho President, Chuck Staben has announced the university will ask the Idaho State Board of Education for a 4.7 percent increase in undergraduate tuition and fees. The proposed increase would raise in-state and out-of-state undergraduate tuition and fees by $308 and $714 respectively — for the 2014-2015 academic year. Keith Ickes, executive director for planning and budget, said the SBOE will vote on the increase at the April board meeting in Moscow. He said the SBOE can approve the proposed increase or a lower percentage if they choose. Ickes said SBOE policy prevents UI from raising the percentage after the official proposal is announced, meaning the university now cannot ask for more than a 4.7 percent increase. “We can go lower, but we can’t go higher, so that sort of sets the upper bound on our tuition,” Ickes said. Max Cowan, ASUI president, said although it is unfortunate to see tuition rise again, it is a positive sign that the proposed increase is less than 5 percent. This is in contrast to the previous two years, which each saw more than a 5 percent increase in UI tuition and fees. “Over the past 10 years (tuition) almost doubled, and that’s an unfortunate reality of higher education across the
nation,” Cowan said. “I’m excited to see the increase be under 5 percent, which we haven’t seen for several years now.” Ickes said the increase is determined by analyzing how much money is needed to fund important budget items. He said UI increases tuition fees, as opposed to facilities or student fees, because it allows the university to be more flexible in how it distributes funds. “We’re fundamentally looking at things that we think are absolutely critical, essential or mandatory to accomplish,” Ickes said. He said the tuition increase will also fund administrative salary raises and faculty promotions. Ickes said during the university’s recent classification and compensation study, it was discovered UI is paying faculty and staff at 85 percent the current market share for their position. He said the state does not often fund salary increases, but usually allocates money to fix a specific problem or issue on campus. “It’s important for us to stay competitive on salaries, right now we need some catch up,” Ickes said. “The state does not put money into salaries, and when they do it is a fraction of what we need.” Ickes said many UI faculty who will receive promotions and complete their
Friday, March 7, 2014
Commons/SUB/ R & R $184.50
ASUI asks for increase to student fees Kaitlyn Krasselt Argonaut
ASUI President Max Cowan said students expect more from their education at the University of Idaho than just the piece of paper at the finish line. But for students this means paying a little more for those services intended to enhance the student experience. A portion of the undergraduate student bill, known as the dedicated student activity fee, will likely increase 1 percent as part of a total proposed 4.7 percent increase to undergraduate tuition and fees for the 2014-2015 academic year. “The dedicated student activity fee is important in that it provides for many different programs that are important for student success that create an active and engaged and lively campus life,” Cowan said. The fee — which will total $1,084.04 per student with the $10.24 increase — is distributed among programs that are deemed beneficial for the student experience. For example, each full-time undergraduate student pays $8 per year to
Violence Prevention Programs for its services. That $8 per student then makes up a several thousand dollar portion of that program’s budget. The fee covers and funds things such as the Student Recreation Center, ASUI, student admittance to athletic events and many other student-oriented programs and services on campus. ASUI initially proposed a 1.55 percent increase, with concern for covering a 2 percent Change in Employee Compensation for employees in departments funded by the student activity fee. Cowan said if a CEC were to occur, a 1 percent increase will now be enough to cover the difference, thanks to state appropriations. In determining the necessary fee increase, the Associated Student Fee Committee completed a review of all programs that receive funding from the dedicated student activity fee. The committee recommended ASUI reallocate $8 per student per year that was previously received by New Student
SRC Operations/ R & R $94.60
Intramurals/Sports Clubs $38.50 Campus Card $17.90
ASUI $192.00
Breakdown of current dedicated student activity fee designations
SEE ASUI, PAGE 5
IN THIS ISSUE
Women’s basketball beats Chicago State by 50, improves to 14-1 in WAC. sports, 6
Proposed tuition increase lowest in years, still unfortunate. Read Our View.
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SEE regents, PAGE 5 3.7.2014 Vol. 4 No. 22
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University of Idaho cover art by emily vaartstra | rawr
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page Volume 115,tattoo Issue no. 46 artists 7
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