KANSAN.COM
University tries to minimize effects of tuition increases
▶ CHANDLER BOESE
@chandler_boese
Incoming freshmen are seeing a five to six percent increase in their tuition this year, thanks to state budget cuts. However, offices like University Endowment and the Kansas Board of Regents are trying to decrease the effect of the cuts, both now and in the future.
In May, the office of Governor Sam Brownback announced that the revenue from fiscal year 2016, which ended in June, was not as high as the planned expenses. As a result, the budgets of all state universities in Kansas were cut, said Breeze Richardson, the communications director for the Kansas Board of Regents.
Originally, incoming instate undergraduates who chose standard tuition (as opposed to the fixed, fouryear rate) were supposed to see a 4 percent increase. However, after the allotments were announced by the governor's office, the University amended their proposal to a 5 percent increase for the same group.
When she spoke with the Kansan in the first week of August, Richardson said new strategies for communicating with the state government would be discussed at the board's annual retreat, which took place on Aug. 9-11. She said the board, along with administrators from every university, would brainstorm new ways to better communicate universities' need for funding and the way they can benefit the state as a whole.
The increased tuition
proposal would generate, in total, about $9.1 million, according to KU's revised proposal. About $5 million of that would go towards retaining outstanding faculty and staff through merit pay. Another $2 million would support the University's efforts to expand their online course offerings and systems, while $1 million would be allocated to the business school to continue improving their programs.
We're not just dividing up the pie, we're trying to make the pie bigger."
Neeli Bendapudi Provost
Provost Neeli Bendapudi said the tuition advisory committee, which is made up of staff, faculty and students from many different levels and disciplines, looked at a lot of numbers and facts when making the decision of where to allocate those funds.
"We're trying to take [the increase] very seriously and make these changes based on facts and evidence," she said.
wanted to remedy that.
For example, Bendapudi said retention of staff and faculty was a big focus because the University's faculty hadn't seen a real raise in several years and the committee was worried about losing those staff members to other schools. Committee members also saw that there were staff members making under $30,000 a year and
Bendapudi said University administrators are not just focused on allocating revenue, but they're looking at the budget more holistically.
"We are really trying to do everything we can to look at our operations and resources," she said "We're not just dividing up the pie, we're trying to make the pie bigger."
One of the University's affiliates is also working to help contribute funds to the University's operations and help offset the cost of tuition for students. Endowment recently announced that they have raised $1.6 billion since 2008 as part of their Far Above campaign.
About a third of that total has gone to students, whether in the form of undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships or student awards, said Michelle Tevis, the senior editor of Endowment's Media Relations department. The rest is split up between programs, faculty and facilities, but students have the majority with $523 million.
Tevis said that fundraising is all donor-driven, as each individual donor decides how their money will be spent. The funds marked for students could be for program-specific scholarships, need-based programs or general scholarships, depending on the donor's wishes.
"Our donors are keenly aware of students' needs and care want to make an education affordable at KU," she said, adding that many donors are alumni themselves.
APPROVED TUITION RATES* PER SEMESTER FISCAL YEAR 2017
Lawrence Campus Standard Lawrence Campus Compact KU Med Center
Resident Undergraduate $5,274.50 $5,727.50 $5,208.01
Non-Resident Undergraduate $12,965.75 $14,119.25 $12,897.16
Lawrence Campus KU Med Students KU Med Center
Resident Graduate $5,219.00 $18,105.53 $5,134.77
Non-Resident Graduate $11,567.00 $31,735.42 $11,504.07
*includes full-time tuition and required fees
File Photo/KANSAN
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