|
|
Board of Trustees approves fiscal 2008
budget
During a meeting Friday
morning, the ASU Board of Trustees approved the proposed budget for
fiscal 2008 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008) for the ASU System of
campuses. At ASU-Jonesboro, additional funding from tuition
revenues, state appropriations and reallocations were directed to
the 11 priorities established through the University Planning
Committee, in support of the university's strategic plan.
Tuition will go up, starting
with second summer term
The Board also approved
tuition increases for resident and non-resident students at the
undergraduate and graduate levels at ASU-Jonesboro. The increases average 3.9%,
effective July 1. ASU will use
the increase to meet Higher Learning Commission accreditation
purposes, to make improvements in teaching and instruction, and to
continue improvements funded in last year's budget, all for the benefit
of our students.
ASU's tuition ranked
3rd in
state in FY 2007
Although information from other
universities for the upcoming year is not yet available, data for
the current year show that the cost of attending ASU is still very
competitive in the State of Arkansas. In a report to the trustees, Jennus Burton, vice president for finance and administration,
noted that ASU-Jonesboro's hourly tuition rate this year is lower than
the University of Central Arkansas (1) and UAF (2), and tied for
third with Arkansas Tech. The rate of increase last year was 7th in
the state. In comparison with national data on four-year public
universities from The College Board, ASU's tuition and fee cost is 29
percent below the national average ($4,138 at ASU, $5,836 national
average). The presentation is at
http://asunews.astate.edu/budpresJune2007.htm.
Faculty Handbook revisions are
approved
Proposed revisions in the
Faculty Handbook, including the Foreword and Section I, were
approved by the Board. The board thanked members of a committee who
worked with Chancellor Potts to develop the faculty-supported proposed revisions,
including Dr. Mike McDaniel, Dr. Mitch Holifield, Julie Isaacson,
Dr. Glen Jones, Lucinda McDaniel, and Dr. Susan Allen. The changes
clarify the process for revising the Faculty Handbook. A proposed change to Section II.j., concerning graduate
faculty, also was approved.
Chancellor Potts reports on
activities of last few months
Dr. Robert L. Potts,
chancellor, presented his report on the last four months of activity
among the various units of the university. For the benefit of the
entire campus, he also included his written report in the June 1
edition of
First Friday.
International tuition policy
changed
The Board also approved a
recommendation to change the tuition policy for international
students to make the rate more affordable, and thus increase
international enrollment. The new policy sets the rate at
twice the in-state rate, plus a $225 per semester fee.
Two new programs approved by Board
Two new academic programs for
ASU-Jonesboro were approved by the Board One resolution
establishes a "second-degree accelerated" bachelor of science in
nursing program in the College of Nursing and Health Professions,
while another authorizes a bachelor of arts in theatre in the
College of Fine Arts.
Personnel appointments and
more resolutions approved
In addition to several
resolutions pertaining to other campuses in the ASU System, the
Board approved several recommended faculty and administrative staff
appointments and re-assignments of duty, and extended the contracts
of President Wyatt and the chancellors at the Beebe, Jonesboro,
Mountain Home and Newport campuses
by an additional year.
Back to the top |
|
