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Show Tuition hike not expected By LIDIA WASOWICZ Chronicle Staff slo tuition increase will occur next school ear if the budget session of the legislature ipproves the proposed University budget. 'The University is requesting $25,827,000. The State Board of Higher Education has spproved $22,422,000. A rise in tuition will xcur only if the budget approved by the itate legislature is considerably below :hese figures," said John Dixon, executive ice president of the University and jrofessor of surgery. n the general budget are included the ollowing line items: :or the educationally disadvantaged, or ninority groups, the University is asking i330,000. The budget for this program, .tarted two years ago, was supposed to lave been increased by $100,000 a year. The first year the University requested 1100,000 and received $100,000 for the irogram. Last year the University asked for 1200,000 but was granted only $95,000. The requested budget for the jaraprofessional program totals $580,000 md is not recommended by the state ward. This program aims to provide raining of aides to professional staff, ivhich is not offered anywhere else in the itate. The University Hospital has recommended in appropriation of $666,000 from 1200,000 received last year. "These figures eflect the difference of actual cost from hat of the non-categorically related nedically indignant and house-staff eaching. The University Hospital provides ervices similar to those of welfare igencies but receives no funds for these ervices," said Dr. Dixon. The basic issue underlying the entire budget question is the competition of welfare, public education and higher education for the state dollar. The money pie is split three ways among these institutions. in-stitutions. "We need a bigger bite. The solution to the financial problem lies in the increase of the total budget," commented com-mented Dr. Dixon. Although the legislature is supposed to concern itself only with budget issues, non-financial bills may also be introduced. Among those bills, three are University related. The Special Substance Act, passed last year, was to go into effect January I. This act makes it impossible for housestaff (interns and residents) to write prescriptions of special substances (narcotics) to outpatients (patients who do not remain in the hospital). This act involves in-volves about 30,000 to 60,000 prescriptions a year. Upholding the act would mean necessitating a senior faculty or licensed person to write or supervise housestaff writing prescriptions. Another bill deals with a consolidation of the University computers into a state computing system. The University has two measured computers, one at the Data Processing Center and one at the Campus Computing Center. A consolidation would save the state money by eradicating the necessity of purchasing new equipment. "The University can provide help, computer com-puter time, expertise to the state under proper circumstances. Yet, we have a concern about the state controlling our computers. The state has no expertise in research computing. And what about the confidentiality of records of CPA, financial status, etc. of the students?" expressed Dr. Dixon. |