http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/newsstory.asp?ID=338

BOARD APPROVES TUITION INCREASES AT STATE UNIVERSITIES



6/16/2005 (JACKSON ) -
Today the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), in its regular monthly meeting, approved tuition increases at Mississippi’s public universities ranging from 3.2 percent at Jackson State to 5.6 percent at Mississippi University for Women. 
 
The tuition increases were driven by two factors: the 1.8 percent decrease in higher education funding passed by the Mississippi Legislature and rising fixed costs—such as utilities, employee retirement contributions, employer insurance, tort and workers’ compensation premiums, and others--at the universities.  Dr. Richard Crofts, commissioner of higher education, said of the IHL staff recommendations on general tuition levels, “In order to maintain high-quality educational offerings at our institutions, we feel these tuition increases are necessary.”
 
President Virginia Shanteau Newton said of the Board’s action today, “We are always reluctant to raise tuition and increase the burden on our students, but we have to ensure the quality of education and services provided by our institutions.”
 
Specifically, tuition increases approved for the eight public universities are as follows:
 
Alcorn State University, 5.0%
Delta State University, 5.0%
Jackson State University, 3.2%
Mississippi State University, 5.0%
Mississippi University for Women, 5.6%
Mississippi Valley State University, 5.0%
University of Mississippi, 5.0%
University of Southern Mississippi, 5.0%
 
Today the Board also passed resolutions honoring seven persons for a total of 253 years of service to higher education in Mississippi.  The honorees were Dr. Wiley Jones, vice president for business affairs at Alcorn State University (ASU), 41 years of service; Dr. Rudolph Waters, executive vice president at ASU, 48 years of service; Dr. Malvin Williams, vice president for academic affairs at ASU, 39 years of service; Dr. Jerry Dallas, professor of history at Delta State University; Mr. John Correro, executive director of alumni activities at Mississippi State University (MSU); Dr. Joe McGilberry, executive director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service; and Dr. J. Donald Trotter, associate vice president for research and interim director of the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems at MSU.
 
In other business, the Board also approved the strategic plan for the University of Southern Mississippi, the awarding of degrees at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and approved policy changes regarding duties of the commissioner and institutional executive officers.
 
The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be July 21, 2005 at the Board Office in Jackson.
 
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