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Show February 12, 1965 SIGNPOST Page 13 Increased Tuition Can Help WSC Budget, But May H tart Students by Camille Ramnarace The college's requested appreciation of $5,913,940 for 1965-67 has been reduced to $5,300,000 or a cut of $613,940 by the Utah Coordinating Council. The WSC Finance Committee has pointed out the seriousness of this situation: "Weber State is in the midst of an enrollment explosion of startling magnitude. Its daytime enrollment of approximately 4400 is an increase of 120.4 per cent since 1960 .... conservative enrollment forecasts for the next two years will add at least an additional 1500 day-time students. To provide for an increase of 1500 students, it will be necessary to employ 58 additional teaching staff to the 1965-66 year. The additional faculty would produce a teacher-student ratio of 28.4 for 1965, in comparison with the student ratio of 24.8 for 1963-64, which is considered to be very high." (The national average is one teacher for every 15 stu-ratio, "it would be necessary to employ 85 teachers for the 1965-66 year rather than the 58 as proposed." The budget proposed by the Council "would provide for only 42 additional teachers for 1965-66." ". . .Weber State's requested appropriation would amount to $498.19 per daytime student in 1965-66 . . . compared with a per student appropriation of only $517.19 for 1961-62 when Weber was still operating as a junior college. These cost figures are considerably lower than those of other higher institutions in the state." In his "State of the State" address, Governor Calvin Rampton suggested that the financial situation might be eased by raising tuition. "I recommend that our state colleges and universities make a substantial upward adjustment in non-resident tuition," he said. "Because substantial federal loan are available ... I feel this tuition increase will work no hardships."Rampton suggested a minimum level which would havenon-residents paying 80 per cent of their tuition costs. According to the Utah Foundation, non-residents now pay less than half the cost of their education. Utahns pay the rest from general taxes of the state. Utah contributes $3.3 million a year to subsidizeout-of-state students, spending more than $730,000 a year on Idaho students alone. The Utah Coordinating Council for Higher Education believes that an increase of $30 for residents and $75 for non-residents would relieve this burden. The cost of educating a student at Weber State, estimated by the council is $679.07 for the year 1964-65. A resident pays $204 of this tuition; a non-resident $354. The Council feels a non-resident should pay at least 60 per cent of his tuition. It has recommended a minimum of $225 for residents and $490 for non residents. "This is only a minimum," said WSC Treasurer James R. Foulger, "we may have to go higher." "What effect could the purposed increased have on enrollment? "I don't think it would affect enrollment in any way," said Dr. Foulger, "because if we raise it to the suggested minimum, we will still be lower than many Western schools. If, however, we have to go above the minimum, it may affect the enrollment. In either case, we 1 mM4ifk -mfrm 7 1 " WE CHERISH BRIDES at The Bon . . . just put your wedding in our hands. We'll give you expert advice on wedding etiquette, even lend you our silver tea service and cake servers at no extra charge . . . Our stock of new season's wedding gowns is very complete, priced from $50.00 to $120.00. For a worry-free wedding day, you provide the bride groom, let The Bon do the rest! 1 1 expect the school to be bulging at the seams, with 1,000 additional students next year." At the present time Weber's totoal enrollment equals 19.7 percent of the total state enrollment in the public junior and senior institutions. There are now 26,031 students attending public Utah institutions, of which 4,756 are non-residents as compared to 2,318 Utahns attending schools outside the state. This makes the net in-migration to Utah's state supported schools the sixth highest in the nation. The majority of these residents, however are at the University of Utah and Utah State, where they comprise around 37 per cent of the studentbody. At Weber State, there are slightly over 220 nonresidents, or around 5 per cent of the studentbody. It is felt that out-of-state enrollment should be controlled, not only to relieve the taxpayer's burden, but also to provide room for Utah's "war babies" who are now plaguing the state institutions with a record number of applications. The Utah Foundation has suggested that Utah increase nonresident fees sharply, or raise the standards for admission, restricting enrollment to academically superior students, or limit the percentage of non-residents by establishing quotas. What effect could a limit of non-residents have on Utah? Although not classifeied as a resident, a non-resident lives here for the better part of 4 years or more and spends money on food, clothing, books, and supplies, lodging and entertainment, all of which contriubte to the state's economy. Dr. Foulger estimated that a non-resident will spend approximately $1,000 in Ogden per year. Others figure $15,000 which is probably a more realistic estimate. This means approximately $330,000 a year to Ogden and $7,134,000 to the State of Utah. At University of Utah and Utah State, out-of-state graduate students contribute by working as teaching assistants or by carrying out intensive research programs.What effect could the fee increase have on the education of young people? Many educators note that surrounding states do not always provide the type of education a student may want. Restrictions on non-residents may limit the quality of education they can obtain, or can afford. Some students complain that because they move frequently from state to state, they are unable to establish legal residence anywhere. Transfering can also lose them credits and thus increase the years before graduation. What will be the effect on the new residence halls? "I think the halls will fill up next year," said Dr. Foulger. "There are now 277 students at the halls, and we expect more next year. But we will wait and see how things go before building more halls." TYPEWRITER SICK? Service is our Specialty A special WSC Student and Faculty Discount on all repairs. BACKUS BUSINESS MACHINES 383 Patterson, Ogden Phone 392-0184 Launch the social whirl in fine style with a tuxedo from our smart, new spring fashions. Dinner jackets in white, black and powder blue. A special added feature for WSC students: Tux shirt, studs, Cumberland, cuff links, bow or Continental tie. All combined for only $10. Or with deluxe fancy tux shirt $12 at . . . white w ft HOUSE OF WEDD ING ARTS 3284 Washington Blvd. Phone 394-7635 |