Kayla Nelson
Staff Writer
Every year the State Board of Education discusses tuition for universities and schools state wide. Idaho State University tuition fees will be increasing 3.3 percent for the 2015-2016 school year. Over the past three years, the percentage in tuition increases has been decreasing slowly. Two years ago, fees increased by 4 percent, last year fees increased by 3.5 percent and this year fees will be raised 3.3 percent.
“One of the things I am proudest of, especially given tuition and student loans rising the way they are, is we have had several years of succeeding lower levels of tuition increase,” said Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer James Fletcher. “We are now at 3.3 percent, the lowest [increase] of the big three in Idaho, [University of Idaho, Boise State University and Idaho State University], the lowest we’ve had in 27 years.”
ISU had previously suffered from some financial concerns with only $200,000 in reserves, the lowest in the state of Idaho. Today, there is $35.5 million in reserves, which is the highest in the state of Idaho.
Fletcher stated that the school has not had any layoffs during the recession.
“We have made major strides. The alumni say the campus is looking the best it’s been in years which is very important.” said Fletcher. “We have some major new research facilities and initiatives going. Having been named a research one institution is also important.”
This year, fees reportedly needed to be increased for facility benefits and ISU maintenance.
ISU has had four years of salary increases and expanded the benefits programs to include an employee-dependent benefit assistance program.
“One of the goals we have had for the university for some time is to ensure we are financially solvent and successful because that is the bedrock on which everything rests and that’s been a major accomplishment over the past eight years,” said Fletcher.
In order to get fees raised, there is a process that must take place.
First, the Special Budgetary Consultation Committee evaluates a cooperative budget composed from fees and departments at ISU. The budget is then taken to the State Board of Education, which sets the amount of increase or decrease of tuition fees.
The Special Budgetary Consultation Committee does not represent units but rather constituencies of faculty, staff and students.
The committee is composed of 11 people, three of whom are students and the rest are various faculty and staff. Fletcher acts as head of the committee. The three students are typically the Associated Students of Idaho State University (ASISU) President, Vice President and Vice President of Finance. This reportedly enables students of the university to have equal representation with faculty.
“We wanted to be a voice for the students to the administration, especially [with] regards to tuition fees,” said ASISU President Taylor Tingey. “I feel like we did that by making sure the administration knew that students wanted tuition as low as possible.”
The committee will be discussing the budget itself in May and the State Board of Education will approve it in June.
“We have some fascinating discussion in the group. No one is shy,” said Fletcher. “It is very enlightening and very informative.”
Every spring semester near the end of February, Fletcher holds a hearing for proposed tuition and fees for the upcoming year.
The student fee hearings allow participants to ask questions and get answers about ISU’s budget and funding. Fletcher also addresses concerns students have about tuition costs or fees.
“I know that the administration and the university as a whole do not want to increase fees and have this additional burden on the students, but I think the students can do themselves a favor by having themselves be heard at these public hearings and other opportunities to express themselves,” said Tingey.
There are two hearings held on the Pocatello campus, one on the Idaho Falls campus and one held on the Meridian campus.
According to Tingey there have not been more than a couple of students attending the hearings in recent years.
“The problem with lowering fees is the fees themselves only pay for a fraction of the education we provide to a student at ISU,” said Fletcher.
ISU receives $80 million in fees and tuition and $80 to $90 million from the state; however, the state amount is significantly less than it used to be due to the recession. The state portion has been cut by 26 percent, thus the fee increases reportedly help offset cuts from the state. The rest of the money for the school comes from research and auxiliaries.
“I think it is absolutely ridiculous the level at which we have collectively allowed student debt to rise and students shouldn’t have to come out starting life with that hanging over them,” said Fletcher. “It’s difficult starting out. I can speak not only as the vice president, but as a proud husband of an alumnus and father of a son. I know what happens when you have to pay those bills. We have got to do something about that.”
