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Future funding
University honors college Presidential forum helps provide view of OSU's future
Craig Bidiman
Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: News
Last night President Ed Ray teamed up with the University Honors College to present a Presidential forum on fees, funding and financial responsibility.
"It was clear to me that relying on the state to supply us the funds we needed was unrealistic," Ray said. "Which is why we have to rely on private investors."
Ray and five other university representatives spoke in regards to tuition, resource fees, incidental fees and other general funding areas.
In 2003-05, the university received a small increase in state revenue, which allowed for a three percent increase in tuition rates. This posed more discussion for other fees and expenses.
A major concern brought forward by students in the honors college was their $250 enrollment fee.
Ray addressed this query, claiming the fee that honors college students pay goes directly to the department's general funds.
"I tend to feel the honors students are disproportional when it comes to participating in campus engagements all over the country," Ray said.
"Which is why it is important for a University to draw in the brightest students for their programs."
"Without our resources growing dramatically, we cannot grow our numbers effectively."
This differential in tuition being paid amongst students is also represented in different departments on campus.
Ray discussed that some of the weighing factors in his upcoming budget will be greatly influenced by the growth of interest in each department, with programs like agriculture, business and liberal arts all paying separate amounts of tuition.
In Ray's upcoming budget, which is presented every two years, he hopes to provide more funding for teachers to decrease class size. In order to provide the necessary means for this proposal, Ray explained the increases implemented each year.
"Tuition and fees can only go up as much as median household income goes up," Ray said.
This percentage of increase has been capped at 3.4 percent annually.
"It was clear to me that relying on the state to supply us the funds we needed was unrealistic," Ray said. "Which is why we have to rely on private investors."
Ray and five other university representatives spoke in regards to tuition, resource fees, incidental fees and other general funding areas.
In 2003-05, the university received a small increase in state revenue, which allowed for a three percent increase in tuition rates. This posed more discussion for other fees and expenses.
A major concern brought forward by students in the honors college was their $250 enrollment fee.
Ray addressed this query, claiming the fee that honors college students pay goes directly to the department's general funds.
"I tend to feel the honors students are disproportional when it comes to participating in campus engagements all over the country," Ray said.
"Which is why it is important for a University to draw in the brightest students for their programs."
"Without our resources growing dramatically, we cannot grow our numbers effectively."
This differential in tuition being paid amongst students is also represented in different departments on campus.
Ray discussed that some of the weighing factors in his upcoming budget will be greatly influenced by the growth of interest in each department, with programs like agriculture, business and liberal arts all paying separate amounts of tuition.
In Ray's upcoming budget, which is presented every two years, he hopes to provide more funding for teachers to decrease class size. In order to provide the necessary means for this proposal, Ray explained the increases implemented each year.
"Tuition and fees can only go up as much as median household income goes up," Ray said.
This percentage of increase has been capped at 3.4 percent annually.
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