H.A. Breaking News-- Thames seeks 11% tuition increase - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Apr 13, 2006

H.A. Breaking News-- Thames seeks 11% tuition increase

Date: Apr 14, 2006

With the quality of the faculty here at USM,it's still a real bargain.

Date: Apr 14, 2006

Thames seeks 11% hike in tuition
By Rachel Leifer

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060414/NEWS01/604140303/1002

"We'll still be under severe budget constraints if we're allowed to go to the 11 percent level. Without that, we'll definitely be in deficit-spending mode and have to make major reductions in expenditures."

Thames declined to comment where such cuts could be made."

Date: Apr 14, 2006

Mississippi ALREADY has received $100 million in money for post-secondary Katrina relief and its 2500 displaced college students. Where is it?

Date: Apr 14, 2006

Displaced students or those directly affected by the storm get increased Fin Aid. They don't register. They don't get the aid. USM doesn't get the tuition. So far 1,000 students have decided not to receive more Fin Aid.

Date: Apr 16, 2006

How was the 1000 drop in students apportioned across the coast and H'burg campuses? Was it mostly at the coast, or did H'burg lose enrollment, too? I recall this coming up in the past, but I can't remember the details.

Date: Apr 16, 2006

I don't know of any demographic data being supplied. Just that Hattiesburg enrollment is down approximately 1,000 students. Given the size and duration of Katrina, demographics might not show anything except the wide spread effects of the storm.

Date: Apr 16, 2006

as i recall about 600 on the coast, 400 in hattiesburg.

Date: Apr 16, 2006

History seems to be speaking here somewhat dogmatically. Hattiesburg did not lose a 1000 students, and the $100 million already given to Mississippi for post-secondary education is NOT dependent on students applying for financial aid.

Date: Apr 16, 2006

I should say History is speaking somewhat dogmatically AND elliptically, sound familiar. If anything can be measured, it is demographics.

Date: Apr 17, 2006

Colleges seek more Katrina aid
Junior colleges say need goes beyond tuition
By Rachel Leifer

Like Mississippi, Louisiana received $95 million from Congress to help universities and colleges left limping after Hurricane Katrina.

But the Pelican State will spend its share differently - and advocates for local two-year colleges say they wish Mississippi had done the same rather than earmark it solely for student aid.

"We feel like some of the money should have gone to student aid, but colleges also have a tremendous operational need," said William Lewis, president of Pearl River Community College.

"We've got to be able to provide quality faculty and supplies, and our ability to provide all these things has been diminished by the storm."

An expected reduction in local tax support, fewer state dollars because of declined enrollment, higher insurance deductibles and steep repair bills threaten two-year colleges' short-term financial viability, Lewis said.

Congress empowered the state College Board to distribute the $95 million among the eight public universities it oversees. The board also distributes the funds to two-year colleges and proprietary schools.

Tom Meredith, the state's higher education commissioner, said the College Board decided to use the money for tuition help.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060126/NEWS01/601260301/1002

Date: Apr 17, 2006

IHL PRESS RELEASE
BOARD APPROVES ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS DESIGNATED FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE
1/19/2006 (Jackson, MS ) -

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) approved the allocations for the $95 million in federal dollars designated for student higher education financial aid assistance. Since the announcement of the availability of federal aid dollars in December, 2005, IHL’s Department of Student Financial Aid worked with all of Mississippi’s Title IV institutions, including public universities, private colleges, proprietary schools and community colleges, to assess need based on specific student eligibility requirements and institutional requirements. Each institution’s allocation is based upon a formula approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

“We are deeply appreciative of the extraordinary support from Governor Barbour, Senator Cochran and our congressional delegation in getting this much-needed funding for our higher education students in Mississippi,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith.

The University of Southern Mississippi, which received the most damage of the state’s eight public universities, received the largest allocation at $27.5 million. “Katrina has already taken so much from us; we should not allow her to steal the education of our citizens,” said Southern Miss President Shelby Thames. “We will contact and encourage students to take advantage of Katrina relief funding so that they can benefit from this opportunity.”

Of Mississippi’s community colleges, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College received the largest allocation at approximately $11.5 million, followed by Jones County Junior College at approximately $7 million and Pearl River Community College at $6.2 million.

Mississippi’s Post-Secondary Education Gulf Hurricane Financial Assistance Allocations
ACADEMY OF HAIR DESIGN

420,518.00

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY

1,000,000.00

BELHAVEN COLLEGE

325,000.00

BLUE CLIFF COLLEGE

174,265.00

BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE

0.00

CHRIS' BEAUTY COLLEGE

75,000.00

COAHOMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

25,000.00

COPIAH-LINCOLN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

300,000.00

DAY SPA CAREER COLLEGE

94,781.00

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY

1,300,000.00

EAST CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

300,000.00

EAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

200,000.00

FINAL TOUCH BEAUTY SCHOOL

92,301.00

HINDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE

20,000.00

HOLMES COMMUNITY COLLEGE

50,000.00

ITAWAMBA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

300,000.00

J & J HAIR DESIGN COLLEGE

64,021.00

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY

3,000,000.00

JONES COUNTY JUNIOR COLLEGE

7,068,541.00

MAGNOLIA BIBLE COLLEGE

0.00

MERIDIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

969,017.00

MILLSAPS COLLEGE

4,056,914.00

MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE

2,500,000.00

MISSISSIPPI DELTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

0.00

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE

11,501,162.00

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

11,971,000.00

MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN

500,000.00

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

230,000.00

NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

12,500.00

NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

75,000.00

PEARL RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

6,215,939.00

RUST COLLEGE

20,000.00

SOUTHEASTERN BAPTIST COLLEGE

80,000.00

SOUTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

200,000.00

TOUGALOO COLLEGE

500,000.00

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

8,531,041.00

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER

300,000.00

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISS

27,500,000.00

WESLEY BIBLICAL SEMINARY

25,000.00

WESLEY COLLEGE

3,000.00

WILLIAM CAREY COLLEGE

5,000,000.00

Under the leadership of the Board of Trustees, IHL governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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Date: Apr 17, 2006

You've got to love that some of the money went to cosmetology schools...that's gotta make it in See More one of these days!

Truth

(now, don't all you J&J Hair Design alums email me at once!

)

Date: Apr 17, 2006

Does anyone know the parameters attached to this money? Is it restricted to certain categories or activities or is it a slush fund that can be used for whatever? If it is unrestricted as to categories, does the University have to report how it spent the money? I would think that the IHL would want to know the details of the use of the money before they levied an additional 11% hike in tuition.

Date: Apr 17, 2006

"The College Board announced last week allocations from the $95 million to 38 Mississippi higher education institutions. The money was funneled through Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act, which deals only with student assistance."

Date: Apr 17, 2006

IHL was "appointed" as the disburser of the funds by the Feds. The deadline to use the money to supplement the Fin Aid of the affected students expires this fall semester. The IHL had the opportunity to give money, as grants, to support the operations of affected institutions. It chose Fin Aid as being more equitable. Institutions losing enrollment, those with student populations from areas hard hit by Katrina, need operational money, as well as, studen Fin Aid. I understand the operational support is being reconsidered. Some institutions cannot utilize all of their allocation for student aid, had a small or no enrollemnt decline, and do not face the same set of circumstances as USM and the coastal junior colleges. Other institutions would also gualify for operational money. IE. William Carey.

Date: Apr 18, 2006

Putting all of the relief assistance into financial aid assistance keeps it liquid.

Date: Apr 18, 2006

Uneven Development wrote:

IHL PRESS RELEASE
BOARD APPROVES ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS DESIGNATED FOR STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ASSISTANCE
1/19/2006 (Jackson, MS ) - <SNIP>

These are the original distribution figures. USM and the three South Mississippi community colleges all had their amounts adjusted ... downward. There is supposed to be some other adjustments in the next couple of months as IHL decides which schools aren't spending their allocations, etc.

Importantly, NONE of the institutions received any of that money up front. Each institution submits data files showing specific award amounts to individual students and draws down that amount of money. I believe most institutions are reporting and disbursing funds weekly, if not weakly.

Date: Apr 18, 2006

History wrote:

IHL was "appointed" as the disburser of the funds by the Feds. The deadline to use the money to supplement the Fin Aid of the affected students expires this fall semester. The IHL had the opportunity to give money, as grants, to support the operations of affected institutions. It chose Fin Aid as being more equitable. Institutions losing enrollment, those with student populations from areas hard hit by Katrina, need operational money, as well as, studen Fin Aid. I understand the operational support is being reconsidered. Some institutions cannot utilize all of their allocation for student aid, had a small or no enrollemnt decline, and do not face the same set of circumstances as USM and the coastal junior colleges. Other institutions would also gualify for operational money. IE. William Carey.

A bit of real history, History: Tom Meredith convinced Congressional leaders that Mississippi "wanted" the money disbursed as Title IV student aid (unlike Louisiana, where the money is dispensed under Title VII as block grants to institutions). He did this claiming that he had consulted with Wayne Stonecypher of the State Board for Community & Junior Colleges, although Stonecypher recalls no such conversation. In fact, Stonecypher & Gov. Barbour were talking about an entirely different approach while Meredith was traipsing to Washington to promote his agenda.

Conspiracy theorists believe that Meredith made this particular request because IHL is the designated gatekeeper for Title IV student aid & this would give the universities a leg up on the community colleges. Anyone familiar with Meredith's tenure in Georgia will know that he is no particular friend of two-year institutions.

Of more immediate import to USM, the distribution of funds under the "LEAP" formula (entirely based on the product of cost-of-attendance & headcount enrollment, including out-of-state & graduate students) allows UM & MSU to devote a greater proportion of their federal disaster relief monies to recruitment, while institutions like USM have to focus on taking care of a much higher percentage of their student bodies that are bona fide hurricane-affected.

, I love a good conspiracy theory!

Date: Apr 18, 2006

What seems obviously ridiculous in this whole thing is that USM only has received roughly 25% of the aid.... Wasn't there one other school that received physical damage?

Date: Apr 18, 2006

What you stated is exactly what occurred. I put the " "'s around appointed to avoid the political moves. To me what is important is that there is movement to change the funds left from Fin Aid to "operational support".

Date: Apr 19, 2006

Should have been there in the first place and primarily at our place.

Date: Apr 19, 2006

Yes I agree. Looking at this I am suprised that we have become a model for how to get federal aid while Louisiana fumbles around. I guess the model is efficiency, but this efficiency streamlines money in the wrong places in the wrong way.

Date: Apr 20, 2006

So USM received only 5.5% tuition hike. Now what? What deep cuts are likely? I'm asking, I have no information, just read on the Internet the 5.5% and another level likely for non-resident tuition hikes.