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June 21, 2006 Regents approve $100/semester student surchargeby Anne Krapfl Students who attend Iowa State full time in the coming academic year will pay a $100 per semester energy/environment surcharge to help the university cover cost increases in utilities, building operations and library acquisitions --- items that contribute to a learning environment. The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, unanimously approved the surcharge during a special meeting on campus June 20. The regent universities developed the surcharge proposal in response to FY07 state appropriations that, for Iowa State, will include just $4.4 million in new recurring funds for operating expenses. About $22.6 million in state support to ISU will be one-time funds or funds with restricted uses -- such as new building planning or economic development efforts. The surcharge is expected to bring in an estimated $4.33 million for Iowa State for the 2006-07 budget year. The largest portion of it, about $2.96 million, will pay for fuel and utility cost increases next year. Other key uses include opening new buildings ($606,000), meeting rising costs of library acquisitions ($500,000) and helping to cover compensation increases mandated for Merit staff ($170,000). The surcharge will be prorated for part-time students. It will be charged to on-campus students only; off-campus students enrolled in distance education programs will not pay it. The surcharge is a temporary, one-year proposal. It's not considered tuition, but rather an energy/environment surcharge. To put the surcharge proposal in perspective, tuition for resident undergraduates is going up $113 per semester next year. Student Johnathan Gajdos, a member of the University of Iowa's Graduate Student Senate, asked the regents to treat the surcharge like a tuition increase and require the universities to set aside at least 15 percent of the additional revenue for financial aid. The regents did not include this idea in their final proposal. Hold energy costs downIn tandem with the surcharge for students, the universities have pledged to work together, involving students, faculty and staff, to identify ways to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, the regents will make no requests for state funding for campus buildings for three years. The moratorium on new building funds excludes:
Undergraduate student leaders who addressed the board pledged to find ways to involve their respective student bodies in energy-saving efforts. Board president Michael Gartner said the universities, including student leaders, will be asked for periodic updates during the year on their energy-saving efforts and results. Program changesIn other business, the regents approved Iowa State's requests to:
Honorary degreesThe regents also approved Iowa State's requests to award honorary degrees to former governor Robert Ray for his leadership and public service, and R. Byron Bird, professor emeritus of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, for contributions in his field. Ray will be honored at the undergraduate commencement ceremony this December and Bird in May 2007. |
SummaryA surcharge approved June 20 by the regents is a temporary, one-year proposal of $100 per semester per full-time student. It's not considered tuition, but rather an energy/environment surcharge. To put the surcharge proposal in perspective, tuition for resident undergraduates is going up $113 per semester next year. |