A proposed 6 percent undergraduate tuition increase and a 4 percent room increase are among the items set for approval at the Ohio University Board of Trustees meeting next week.
If the tuition increase is approved at the board's Formal Trustees Meeting next Thursday at OU's Lancaster campus, in-state undergraduates will pay about $480 more next academic year, according to the Board of Trustees Agenda.
One percent of the proposed tuition increase might fund the Gateway Scholarship Program, a scholarship fund for high-achieving incoming freshmen, OU President Roderick McDavis said at a news conference last month. The remaining 5 percent would go toward university operating costs, he said.
Tuition for graduate students next academic year is proposed to rise by 3 percent, about $270, according to the agenda.
If trustees approve the 4 percent increase in on-campus housing costs, the quarterly cost of an average double with air conditioning will rise to $1,370, up from $1,317 during the current academic year.
Trustees also will discuss approval of six construction documents so advertisement and acceptance of bids can begin with construction plans.
The plans include the Peden Stadium Fifth Floor Renovation Project, a $470,000 refurbishment of the coach's offices and meeting rooms; the Alden Library Masonry Improvements Project, a $280,000 building repair plan to be completed by summer; and the Lausche Heating Plant Bag House Expansion Project, a $1.2 million phase of the rehabilitation of OU's heating plant.
The New Residence Hall Site and Foundation Package is also up for approval by the board, with $1.4 million to be approved for the design of the building. The new residence hall will be near Nelson Commons on South Green and will house 350 students.
OU already has approved $2.4 million for the planning and design of a new College of Communication building on the site of the current Baker University Center, but Thursday, the board might approve a proposal to search for a consultant on the project.
Trustees also will consider OU's proposal to enact an Early Retirement Incentive Program, which would provide more flexibility in OU's new budget realignment plan, according to the agenda.
OU will offer a financial incentive to retire by July 1, 2006, to 308 retirement-eligible administrative and classified employees. After the incentives are taken, half of the vacated positions will be eliminated completely in support of the Vision Ohio budget realignment plan
according to the agenda.
There will also be other significant service and expense reductions including reductions in staff other than from the (retirement incentive) the agenda states.
- Catie Coleman
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Catie Coleman
