What lies ahead for tuition changes

Kelly Crittenden

The Signal

Designated tuition is required to be paid by each student to cover expenses that are necessary for the effective operation of the institution. The Texas Education Code states the governing board may set a tuition rate they find appropriate to increase graduation rates, encourage efficient use of facilities or enhance employee performance.

The Designated Tuition Increase Town Hall Meeting was held Nov. 3 in the Bayou Building Garden Room.

UHCL President William Staples explained what UHCL knows and does not know about designated tuition increase and what lies ahead.

Texas legislators deregulated tuition so there was no longer a cap in 2003.

“What happened in 2003, though, is still impacting us today,” Staples said.

There is still an uncertainty involving the state budgets and the UH Board of Regents.

Texas has a biannual budget, which means the state of Texas legislators meet every two years. For the school year 2009-10 the budget cut was 5 percent. Predictions are being made about what the increase will be for 2011-12.

“We will have some kind of increase,” Staples said. “We’re planning for a 10 percent reduction.”

A recent report in the Houston Chronicle illustrates a scientific sample of the public regarding budget cuts. The number one area the public would cut spending is with higher education, such as community colleges and universities.

“Higher education accounts for 2.5 percent of all state spending,” Staples said. “We are taking a disproportional share.”

It has taken around 41 percent of reductions.

“We will probably see different positions taken,” Staples said.

Some will argue for the tuition increase as higher education funds from the state decrease. It is so uncertain and all depends on how the budget shortfall continues.

“UHCL tuition right now is below the state’s average,” Staples said.

Compared to universities such as University of Texas at Tyler, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Lamar University, tuition at UHCL is lower.

Texas tuition increases are lower than other states. Some have been affected up to a 15 percent increase, like Florida.

“I do not think we will get to that kind of level,” Staples said.

This semester there are 8,111 students enrolled at UHCL. That is approximately 500 more students than a year ago.

A current UHCL student in the audience wanted to know what UHCL does with the tuition money they received from those students.

Staples said they put the extra money aside, budgeted conservatively, but planned aggressively to increase enrollment.

There are many resources UHCL invests in with the tuition increase. One is the library, so they can continue magazine subscriptions and databases. Equipment in the labs and computers also has to be updated. Full-time faculty has to get paid and so do students with transfer scholarships.

“I think that is one of the reasons our enrollment is up,” Staples said.

Designated tuition also pays for the new satellite campus in Pearland.

“We are committed to growing that campus,” Staples said.

Budget reductions and tuition increases have caused UHCL to make changes to their employment status. Certain vacant positions are not being filled, in case there comes a time when UHCL does not have enough money to support the position. They have not laid anyone off.

Course selections may eventually be effected by offering fewer choices of class times. Summer school courses can also change with what is available and the amount of class options.

“We will do everything we can to serve our students,” Staples said.