Fall tuition increase aims to help students

Money may go to additional financial aid

By: Casandra Haynes

Posted: 7/31/08

Tuition will increase by about 7.9 percent, an extra $247 per student per semester, beginning this fall.

The Board of Regents approved President Gretchen Bataille's proposal to raise tuition in February, confirming that the increase will begin this fall, which will change the budget for this school year.

"Money increase is always an issue," said Bonita Jacobs, vice president of student development. "In order for department heads to make increases in other people on the budget, we must get rid of other things to decrease the budget and make room for new changes. This time we had to make a room for an increase in tuition to accommodate extra funds we needed for students."

Bataille said the extra money would be used for more faculty and advisers for the students.

"We did an analysis of the students, including the time it took for them to graduate and the adviser to student ratio, and it was obvious that we needed to do something financially to keep our students' best interest in mind," Bataille said.

The money could also go toward additional financial aid for students, giving them more money in their award packages.

"Students are always our first interest here and their well being," Jacobs said. "That's why we have to have other ways to help students financially, such as the Student Money Management Center, which helps students plan and budget money."

Jacobs said students have concerns with how they will graduate on time and still be able to keep a job and pass their classes.

"Some students have to leave school for a semester in order to work and save up," she said. "Our goal is to get students out of here in four years, and that's what we plan to achieve."

Bataille said Texas Woman's University is also making changes in its tuition, which is increasing by about $267 per student.

"In order to provide a quality education, we must have money, and as long as the state isn't really providing funds, we have to get money through tuition increases, alumni and a few other possible grants," Bataille said.

Though UNT's tuition is still lower than other Texas schools, there are still students who may struggle to pay for school.

"I think this increase is making it harder for students," said William Gibson, a psychology freshman. "Federal funding hasn't compensated for these costs that I can see. Textbooks prices are rising as well as gas and food. And financially, me and other students who may be in my same predicament are not going to be able to survive with just being in school. Full time jobs might be required for us to stay in school."

Gibson said he hopes the plans for the extra tuition are being used effectively.

"With all the remodeling going on and the demolishing, I wonder how much of this money will really be going to the students," he said. "I really hope the money will actually be used to help us."