Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: News

President Bill Perry speaks about the tuition increase at Monday's Board of Trustees meeting in Tarble Arts Center. (Erin Matheny/The Daily Eastern News)

The Board of Trustees approved a $21 per credit hour increase to tuition for incoming students and all graduate students, as well as an increase in graduate fees for fiscal year 2010 at Monday's meeting in Tarble Arts Center.

The board unanimously approved the $21 per credit hour increase to incoming freshmen and transfer student tuition after the committee proposed the increase through the approval of Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs. Tuition will increase from $218 per credit hour for freshmen entering in fall 2009 to $239 in fall 2010.

It is the second-highest yearly increase since fall 2005.

Students who already attend Eastern have fixed tuition under the Truth in Tuition Act, which guarantees students the right to pay the tuition that they entered with throughout their college careers at a single institution.

"The tuition rates have been approved by students in the tuition and fee committees," said President Bill Perry.

He emphasized the importance of having students involved with the process of selecting both tuition and fee increases. He also cited the increase as necessary to remain a stable budget percentage from student tuition and fees in the ailing economy.

"I would like to remind you that Eastern has a goal in having 12,000 students enrolled, so the increase reflects that mission," Perry said.

The increase to graduate student tuition is $21 per credit hour as well and all students pay the increase. Graduate students are not included in the Truth in Tuition Act. The increase is exactly the same as incoming freshmen and transfers.

Non-Illinois residents will pay an additional $63 for both new undergraduate students and graduate school students.

Nadler emphasized "affordability," and that there was only one additional fee increase added for fall 2010.

Other fee increases were previously approved to increase over five years in past fiscal years and are continuing. The graduate fee will increase 50 cents per year for the next two years. This increase is only applied to graduate students.

In addition, Perry updated the board on fiscal planning that the university is doing in order to "conservatively plan for the future economy."

He said the university is continuing to only fill vacant university positions if they are mission critical, reducing and deferring university expenditures and conducting a long-term pricing and fiscal strategy.

In other items, the board approved two new purchases of a natural gas-fired steam boiler and scoreboard for O'Brien Stadium.

The boiler has been bought for $998,800, with $99,900 in contingency, from CB Nebraska Boiler in Lincoln, Neb. The boiler will replace the existing 1969 boiler in the more than 80-year-old steam plant. It will be removed and installed in the Renewable Energy Center after construction.

Board member Julie Nimmons and board chair Roger Kratochvil both stressed the importance of the passing of Senate Bill 2009, which prompted the purchase approval after it passed the Illinois Senate unanimously.

"Everybody should pray for its passage in the House," Kratochvil said.

The scoreboard will be purchased for a total of $590,791 with contingency. It includes LED video display technology that Jill Nilsen, vice president for external relations, said was in line with competitors and will help draw in new crowds.

The board also approved the naming of two university properties.

The Green Room in Doudna Fine Arts Center was named after Glendon Gabbard and Lucinda P. Gabbard, two former theatre arts faculty members who ventured out and became career actors.

Room 1827 in Coleman Hall was named the Tony Romo Collaborative Classroom, after Romo provided a contribution to the communication studies department. Romo is an Eastern alum and starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys NFL football team.

Two personnel contracts were also approved. A three-year contract for William Weber as the vice president for business affairs, effective July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2012, was accepted, as well as a three-year contract from March 16, 2009, to December 31, 2012 for the women's head soccer coach, Summer Perala.

Finally, the board elected its board positions for the next year's session and its 2010 meeting dates.

Bill O'Rourke was elected board chairperson and board secretary Robert Webb was re-elected board secretary.

Leo Welch and Kratochvil were elected vice chair and member pro-tem, respectively.

Increases in freshman tuition

• 2005-2006: $16.55 increase

• 2006-2007: $19.25 increase

• 2007-2008: $20.85 increase

• 2008-2009: $23.60 increase

• 2009-2010: $21 increase


Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.

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