Marshall University students can expect to pay between 5 percent and 11 percent more in tuition next year. Exactly how much will depend on how much the state budgets for the school when the Legislature passes a budget.
The school's Board of Governors on Wednesday approved a draft operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The draft budget has three possible plans for tuition increases:
n A 5 percent increase if the state does not make further cuts to the university's appropriations,
n An 8 percent increase if the state cuts the school's appropriation by up to 4 percent, or
n An 11 percent increase in tuition if the state cuts appropriations by more than 4 percent.
"To allow planning for the 2016-17 academic year to continue, we asked for and received the board's approval of a draft budget and three possible tuition increase scenarios," Marshall's chief financial officer, Mary Ellen Heuton, said in a news release, "Once we know what our state budget allocation will be, the board will call a special meeting to review and approve a final budget and the tuition and fees for next year.
"We are eagerly looking to see what happens with the state budget. I'm hoping it's not as dire as some of the forecasts have been. Our board and administration are committed to remaining mindful of the impact of tuition increases to our students and their families, and continuing to balance that with maintaining our quality."
The state Legislature ended its 2016 session without coming to an agreement about how to close a $238.8 million funding shortfall. Lawmakers have yet to pass a budget.
Heuton said Marshall's state funding has been cut $11.5 million since 2013.
"It's getting tougher and tougher," she told board members, according to the release. "As you know, through a very intentional, top-to-bottom review of our expenses over the past couple of years, we have cut just about every bit of fat from our operating budget. In planning for next year, we received detailed budget plans from all our operating units, so we can see that we are truly down to what it takes to operate the university and provide services to our students."
In other business, the Marshall University Board of Governors:
n Approved a reforecast budget for the current fiscal year;
n Approved an intent to plan a bachelor of science and a master of science in electrical and computer engineering;
n Authorized the offering of the following undergraduate classes at the school's South Charleston campus: First Year seminar, Fundamentals of Communications, Beginning Composition, Principles of Biology, Human Anatomy, Computer Science, Freshman Engineering Seminar, Preparation for College Mathematics and College Algebra.
n Approved updated policies on travel and discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, sexual and domestic misconduct, stalking and retaliation; and
n Approved dropping three programs - master of arts degrees in early childhood education, elementary education and secondary education - to create a single master of arts degree in education.