The Utah Statesman, November 25, 2014

Page 1

the utah

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014 • www.usustatesman.com • (435)-797-1742 • Free single copy 2017 Proposed $157 per credit hour in upper division business classes

On

the

rise?

2016 Proposed $137 per credit hour in upper division business classes

Jon M. Huntsman Business School looking to increase differential tuition 2015 Proposed $117 per credit hour in upper division business classes

2007 $97 per credit hour in upper division business classes

2014 $97 per credit hour in upper division business classes

4By Manda Perkins asst. news editor

The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business is planning to propose an increase in differential tuition of $20 per undergraduate, upper-division credit hour for the next three years. By the 2017-2018 school year, undergraduates would pay $60 per upper-division credit hour. The increase for graduate students is a $40 per credit hour increase per year. The school will be holding town hall meetings Dec. 2-3 in the O.C. Tanner Lounge to answer student questions before the proposal is brought to the USU Board of

Trustees and the State Board of Regents this spring. Dave Patel, associate dean of student and external affairs for the business school, said the current differential tuition rate brought in almost $6 million this year, but in order to stay competitive and keep up with market forces, the Huntsman school sees a need for a raise. “What we’re focused on is our aspirations to make a top-tier program,” Patel said. “Just like anything else in life, quality has a cost associated to it.” Differential tuition was introduced to the business school in 2007. Currently, all students enrolled in business courses pay $2 per credit hour for lower-level

business courses and $97 per credit hour for upper-division business courses. Administrators from the business school will meet with the business council in January, the USUSA Executive Council in early February and the USU Board of Trustees and the Board of Regents in March. Patel said the school is restructuring its undergraduate core curriculum, which calls for the addition of five new classes. The school also plans to add a minor in real estate as well as other electives. With a 16 percent enrollment increase since 2007, Patel cites a need to hire more faculty to accom-

jSee FEES, Page 7

Examining the Koch Scholars Program 4By Brenna Kelly staff writer

Seventy-five applications sat in a pile on Professor William Shughart’s desk with 75 students all wanting to hear the same words: “Congratulations! We would like you to participate in Utah State University’s Koch Scholars Program.” The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business website defines Koch Scholars Program as “a select group of intellectually curious faculty and students ... who are interested in how politics and economics affect individual freedom and responsibility.” Each semester, 15 students are admitted to the Koch Scholars Program, funded by the Charles G. Koch Foundation (CGK Foundation). A businessman and philanthropist, Charles Koch, is chairman of the board and CEO of Koch Industries and co-owns the company with his brother, David Koch.

According to the Forbes list of “The World’s Most Powerful People,” the Koch brothers have built a $43.6 billion empire. Their product interest ranges from the Dixie cup to Stainmaster Carpet. The Koch Brothers have made frequent appearances in the news lately with headlines like “Animal Rights Groups Claims Abuse by Koch Foods” from CBS Local, “The Koch Brothers Sneak into School” from Huffington Post and “The Koch Network Spent $100 Million This Election Cycle” from the National Journal. When asked whether he considered their ethics to be in question, Professor Shughart declined to answer. Another professor, however, did answer. “I don’t even know who the Koch brothers are,” said Chris Fawson of the economics and finance department. “Do they have names?” Fawson was a Koch Professor for four years and is an advocate for the program.

“I think it’s one of the best mentoring opportunities on campus for students from across campus. ... I loved doing Koch Scholars,” he said. With Charles G. Koch Professor of Political Economy Randy Simmons, Fawson played a critical role in introducing the Koch Scholars Program to USU. “The program was founded by Randy Simmons and Chris Fawson,” said Shughart, who is now a Koch Professor. “We are not influenced one bit by the Koch Brothers. They finance this program because they like what we do. We’re not doing what they want us to do. They like what we do. They fund us, I don’t know, probably $80,000 or $100,000 a year. But all the money goes to books, to food and stipends.” The foundation grant agreement with USU includes a provision that the Koch foundation be involved in reviewing candidates for tenure-tracked professor positions and requires that those hired

with Koch funding follow certain objectives and principles, which are outlined in the agreement. In this instance the CGK Foundation, an outside entity, has the ability to reject or approve the hiring of certain university staff. Under in Section 2(c)(iii) of Terms of Agreement, it reads, “USU agrees to recruit and maintain the Professors in accordance with the Objectives and Purposes.” “Many of our best students have participated in (Koch Scholars),” said Michael Lyons of the political science department. “Some have liked it. Some have walked away as critics. And, you know, I don’t think it’s in any sense harming our students.” The Koch Brothers are characterized by their conservative orientation, Lyons said, and it strikes him as “highly unfortunate” to see its influence at a university in one of the most conservative states in the country, “where the last thing

jSee Koch, Page 2

Annie Hall photo

Pageant recognizes Mr and Miss International FRANCIA SOLIS DISPLAYS her love for dancing and baseball at the Mr. and Miss International Pageant on Saturday night in the Taggart Student Center. Solis is from the Domincan Republic and went on to win the Miss International title.

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2014 Car Care Guide

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