Show Student Body President Supports Tuition Hike IV J Ik lII A V t of n f Dimitri Contributing Writer At a town hall meeting held on Wednesday February 23 the Student Association welcomed students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents to discuss the tuition and student student student stu stu- stu- stu dent fee increase for the 2006 2005 academic year Next year tuition is expected to increase between 35 to 65 percent which is lower compared to other colleges across the state The money that is generated when tuition is raised can help several different different different dif dif- dif dif- ferent areas of the college These areas range from developmental edu edu- cation and community service education education education tion to student services Higher education is what makes one of the top 15 largest community community community com com- college in the country with enrolled students each over year is also ranked number five in the country in awarding degrees to students Tuition and fees is what affects people to enroll at the college said Interim President Judd Morgan We want to be conservative enough for st students dents to want to come cometo to the VIe college We have not raised tuition as high as other state col col- col- col leges Of the total cost of an education education education tion students pay percent funds and percent comes from state 03 percent is compiled from student fees Student fees pay for student services services services ser ser- ser ser- vices that include the Lifetime Activity Center student services building organizations organization and cleaning of these facilities is second to last in student fees compared to all other state colleges One important purpose of these increases will go towards better pay for faculty and staff We want to adjust wages for faculty and staff which is very important said Morgan 22 percent of the staff is paid below the national average we are losing good staff members because of J the salaries being paid paia Many many v. v these staff workers are seeking employment somewhere else The student body council has worked to address the issue of tuition increases We did everything we the increase of tuition could to keep said Student minimum and fees to a Body President Matt Coombs Students who are in support of the increase are aware that the money goes towards a better education If state funds increase towards higher education then tuition will decrease If the these increases I 1 do support See Tuition continued on page 3 a I Tuition continued from front increase goes to 65 percent then it will only add 25 more towards the payment plan which many students are using said Coombs The student council and the educational board know that there has been a 13 million million million mil mil- lion budget cut That kind of money can make a difference in whether an enrollment cap u to VA J r. r i should be placed 1 on the m number num- num j tuber tu- tu ber people attending The students that are opposed to the increase want to know where their tuition is going I understand that tuition is increasing but I 1 struggle to pay for my education education tion said student Lindsay Kanehara I came here to escape the high price of college in comparison to the University of Utah I 1 want to know what areas the money is going J o There are several departments that need improvement which has not been done since Ive I've been here When a student is enrolled at the college he or she must realize that they are going to get the education that they paid for said Coombs |