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NEWS
| November 19, 2003
Tuition and Fees
Plan sees conflicting responses
Some students worry about making
the payments while administrators look forward to the additional
funding the increases will provide to programs.
By Kate
Bolen
The Shorthorn staff
Feven Tekie’s jaw dropped when she heard the UT System Board
of Regents approved interim President Charles Sorber’s recommended
tuition increases Tuesday afternoon.
The undeclared sophomore said her financial aid award didn’t
cover nearly as much as last semester and, with the new increases,
she expects the same for spring.
Regents approved a $10-per-credit-hour increase in the spring and
an additional $17 per credit hour next fall. Nursing and undergraduate
engineering students will pay an additional $10 per credit hour
in the spring, and engineering graduate students must pay an additional
$20 per credit hour in the spring. The plan also calls for a $5-per-credit-hour
increase to fees in the fall. Fall rates will not become official
until Jan. 23 to allow for a 60-day period for public comment.
Tekie said the increases will keep her from taking as many classes
as she would like.
She said she won’t be able to afford as many classes next
semester due to the increases, and would be lucky if she could afford
to take a full load.
“This tuition thing is kicking our asses,” she said.
Many students agreed with Tekie, saying tuition rates are already
high. A few, however, understood the need for the increases.
Interim Provost Dana Dunn said the rates will generate a large amount
of revenue for the school that will benefit both students and faculty.
She said even more financial aid will be available to students with
the money coming in from tuition and fees.
“The most financially needy student will find UTA even more
affordable, and that is very important,” Dr. Dunn said.
Bill Carroll said he anticipates the College of Engineering will
receive about $800,000 in additional income.
The Engineering dean said $500,000 will fund improving labs and
hiring more student aides and faculty.
“It is very important that we keep our labs up to date so
the students can get the type of education they are paying for,”
he said. “This is a very important step for us.”
Dr. Carroll said students needn’t worry about the increase
because the remaining $300,000 will be used for financial assistance.
“There will be sufficient funds left over for students who
are truly in need,” he said.
Roger Roa, an electrical engineering graduate student, said having
to pay the extra $20 per credit hour for his courses does not bother
him as long as he knows the quality of education will improve.
“UTA needs the money, and this is just one way to get it,”
Roa said. “As long as it is going toward getting better professors
and research facilities, I don’t mind at all.”
Nursing Dean Elizabeth Poster said the increases will be helpful
in enabling the school to provide additional resources for students.
Poster said she is unsure about the amount of money the School of
Nursing will receive, although she believes it will be less than
$90,000.
“We are currently discussing what is the best way to spend
the money,” Dr. Poster said.
Beth Wright, Liberal Arts interim dean, said she was excited when
she heard the recommendation had been approved.
Now that the money is available, she said, the college can hire
the 15 tenured faculty it needs.
Dr. Wright said there have been multiple courses the college has
wanted to include in its curriculum, such as one devoted to Shakespeare,
but never could due to the lack of specialists.
“It will bring excellent faculty to campus and contribute
to already excellent programs,” she said.
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| Elizabeth
Poster, nursing dean, says the increases will
help provide resources to students.
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