Show No Surcharges Says AF I V. V 1 3 t- t J t Jt a aBy By Al AI Grover It is unfair for this administration ion to place the burden for continued continued continued cont cont- quality education on the student alone therefore we will not impose a tuition surcharge during Spring Quarter SL President James R. R told Points West this week Speaking about the decision not to impose the time one-time charge indicated that SL was the single institution of higher education in the state to decide against such charges I feel that to ask the students at this school to absorb budgetary shortfalls is unfair to those we serve I also feel that SL can absorb such shortfalls through other arrangements without harm to the services the institution and to the community we are striving to serve indicated In identifying the position of the school relative to surcharges indicated that the need for additional funds could be directly traced to the lack of tax dollars generated in the state during the previous year During the last year there was a definite fall off in the number of tourists in Utah therefore there was a shortfall in available funding for operations of state agencies such as When the money is not there it cannot be given out and this was the case he indicated continued this is a term short-term problem it demands a term short-term solution and such items as surcharges surcharges surcharges sur sur- charges will be basically a time one-time thing at those schools which impose them However I believe that we can cover any shortfalls in inthe inthe inthe the budget by shifting extra dollars to the areas of greatest need We have saved several thousand dollars in the operation of our heating and air conditioning systems and will shift the excess to fill in the gaps of the budget he said During a reaching far-reaching interview with Points West the acting president indicated that any budgetary budgetary budgetary bud bud- cuts mandated for the institution by the Utah Legislature may result in program cuts and cuts in offerings by the school but that his administration would press against cuts in personal services at If the budget cuts being talked about do materialize there will be cuts at this school several of the programs we are involved in will be affected but the institution will have to survive and the best way to do that is to tighten our belts and do the best we can with what we have he commented I do donot donot donot not think that the people of this state can ask us to cut back totally on the preparation of our students in a vocational manner With the needs for trained workforce for the Intermountain Power Project the MX project and for continued energy growth in Utah and the West must be able to continue its mission of providing trained workers and I think state legislators are aware of this added Asked about new programs and re-instituting re programs no longer offered at the school the president responded that his personal recommendation is for returning classes in heating and conditioning air-conditioning motel hotel-motel management food services and andreal andreal andreal real estate but that it would be difficult to ask for the reinstatement reinstatement reinstatement reinstate reinstate- ment of courses in auto body painting and repair When the school was asked to cut offerings by four and one half percent the thelast thelast thelast last time we spent quite a lot of effort and time that the auto body courses were invalid to the mission of the school How can we now argue that they are valid he asked continued We tried offering auto body courses on a self-pay self basis but such programs are not recommended and therefore are not eligible for benefits under the VA or other social service agencies for reimbursement When that happens there is not enough interest on the part of the student to continue with the course Speaking about waiting lists and student demand for new courses or sections in established programs stated We know that there are more students wanting heavy duty mechanics courses and that we have space but the cost of adding sections is a major consideration It would cost more than seventy-five seventy thousand dollars for a new section in that program not to mention the instructional costs I think we owe the community fiscal accountability as aswell aswell aswell well as quality education he added Continued on Page 8 NO SURCHARGES continued from Page 1 Speaking about his tenure in office President said I HI have genuinely enjoyed the time that I have spent in office even though there has been some heart heart- ache It has helped me spend this time with a sense of humor The college has been my home for quite a large part of my time and I enjoy the communication with this community indicated that the search committee at SL is expected to narrow candidates for the office of the president during early spring and he may not be one of the candidates B It It is not traditional for forthe forthe forthe the acting president to apply for that position but who knows I may wish to enter my credentials or have someone present them for me meat meat meat at a later date he stated Even BEven if that is not the case concluded I would wish to continue my service to this institution in any area where I may benefit SL |