After a report by Athletic Director Kent Weiser, and much debate, the Budget Development and Tuition Committee passed a four percent recommended increase for athletics, which will add a projected $5.20 for full time students and 60 cents for part time students starting to student fees next semester.

Though the Athletic Department had requested a six percent increase, the committee negotiated the four percent increase, which 11 members voted to pass and one opposed.

Weiser presented information detailing steps that had been taken to cope with budget cuts after the department did not receive an increase in funding last year such as the ceased printing of media guides for all sports, hosting soccer games on campus instead of renting a more equipped facility, and decreasing travel, among other things.

“I know conducting an athletics program is expensive,” Weiser said. “But I very much believe that we are getting a pretty good bang for our buck and we’re stretching things quite a ways with who we compete with and what is expected of us and what we expect of ourselves.”

A major expense and concern of the Athletic Department is the ability to provide students with athletic scholarships.

“That basketball player is also a marketing major or a history major, and so on,” said John Rich, faculty athletic representative. “They are students that are in our program, they are not just student athletes. Athletics brings students into our program that would not otherwise be here if it weren’t for the athletics money that funds their scholarships.”

Amy Webb, associate professor, faculty senate past president and committee member, expressed an opinion that she thinks is felt by many non-athlete students.

“Students are always going to say ‘why are my fee monies paying for that student’s scholarship?’” Webb said. “Now, of course you can’t run a budget that way where each person gets to say where their taxes go, but there is some equity to be considered here. There are students that are facing reduced financial awards of their own, who are working additional jobs and they need to be able to feel good about this increase being equilateral and not necessarily lining the pockets of students and prospects elsewhere.”

But Jim Williams, vice president of student affairs and committee member, argued that enrollment is affected by the athletic program, which impacts academic programs.

“It does have an impact on enrollment and that impact on enrollment in some of the programs may impact whether some of those programs continue.” Williams said.

The adjustment of the increase from 6 percent to 4 percent was proposed by Webb and passed by all who voted except for Carol Russell, associate profess of elementary teacher education and faculty senate president, though it may be reevaluated later in the process.

This increase is only part of what is an estimated total increase of $34.03 for full time students and $3.92 for part time students for fees considered by the committee as part of the Campus Privilege Fees.

The other portion of Campus Privilege Fees is considered by Associated Student Government and is an estimated increase of $5.43 for full time students and 56 cents for part time students.

These totals, combined with the existing fee, bring the total projected Campus Privilege fee to $513.46 for full time students and $62.48 for part time students for next year, a 7.73 percent increase from this year. Exact numbers have not yet been finalized because after they are passed by the committee, they must then be approved by Emporia State President Michael Lane and then finalized by the Kansas Board of Regents.

The Budget Development and Tuition Committee plans to meet again in late April to discuss possible increases of tuition. The committee hopes to present their finalized recommendations for both the Campus Privilege Fees and Tuition in early May and then to KBOR on May 7.

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Potential tuition increases due to state funding cuts and increased university spending were discussed by administration, student leadership and faculty members at yesterday’s Budget Development and Tuition Committee meeting. An increase has not been finalized, but debates over the issue will continue after spring break. Kellen Jenkins/ The Bulletin

Potential tuition increases due to state funding cuts and increased university spending were discussed by administration, student leadership and faculty members at yesterday’s Budget Development and Tuition Committee meeting. An increase has not been finalized, but debates over the issue will continue after spring break.

The university’s expenditures have increased due to mandatory rises in employee health insurance, retirement, promotions and possible state mandated increases to classified employee wages. Michael Lane, president of Emporia State, said that the university is doing whatever is possible to minimize the impact of budget cuts on students.

“We are advocating with the legislature to leave our money flat this year,” said Lane in an interview. “Not to decrease it more because we know the state budget is going to be lower for fiscal year 2011 than it is in 2010. So our position with them is whatever it takes, no more cuts and then we will work through what we need to to continue to offer the most quality education that we can to our students.”

But he said that the mandatory expenditures will likely be made up by a rise in tuition costs because he is “reasonably sure (the university) is going to get no more money out of the state.”

According to information provided by Ray Hauke, vice president for Administration and Fiscal Affairs, the cost increase for faculty promotions will be about $3,000 and the retirement increase will be around $700,000. Information for the other two major expenditures was unavailable.

In addition to these rising costs, health services and the athletic department are requesting increases in their budget from the university, which would affect the campus privilege fees that students pay in their tuition.

Due to many factors including a relocation to Southeast Morse, newer equipment and furniture and an increased cost of flu vaccines, Health Services is requesting a $1.50 increase to a total fee of $64.85 per full time student which will give them a total increase in their budget of about $12,000.

“All of these things add up over time,” said Jaque Schmidt, director of Student Wellness. “We want to be conservative because we know the budget situation. We kept it as modest as we felt we could, maybe even a little too modest.”

One thing brought to question was that the university issues free flu shots to students. The price of the shot will increase in cost from $6.00 to $11.60 next year and are a factor in the Health Services request. Some suggested the university not pay for these, but Schmidt said the benefits outweigh the costs.

“One of the things we’ve given the students as part of their privilege fee is free office visits and free flu shots because we feel that those things are beneficial to the health of the campus,” Schmidt said. “If we can keep the students from getting the flu, keep them in classes, keep them from spreading it, then that a service to the campus that we want to be sure to come in and get.”

The athletic department did not receive an increase last year but its requested increase of $7.40 will brings the total fee to $130.28 for full time students. The requested increase for part time students is 85 cents to a total fee of $14.86. The increase will help cover athlete medical costs, payment for game officials and travel to competitions.

“Our teams get around on a pretty thrifty budget and don’t have a lot of frills that go with it,” said Kent Weiser, athletic director. “But there are just certain things that if we are going to have a quality program we need to be able to provide.”

Carol Russell, President of Faculty Senate, said that it is important to remember that cuts are happening university-wide.

“I’m sure you do understand that in academics we do the same thing,” said Russell as a response to Weiser’s statement. “And also how it looks to cut our academics and cut positions and then increase athletics.”

The Budget Development and Tuition Committee will continue to debate this issue, but Lane said that their decisions are only a recommendation and that the Kansas Board of Regents makes the final decision.

“We don’t know what the other institutions are going to be doing,” Lane said. “But I expect that the committee will do a good job of discussing a lot of options and ultimately come down with a recommendation which is best for our institution which would ultimately be best for our students as well.”

The next meeting will be held on March 24 in the PKP room, upstairs in the union. The time has not been confirmed but has been set for 12 p.m. An open forum will be held sometime in May where students can voice their opinion.

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