The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 91, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 28, 1985 Page: 1 of 8
eight pages : ill. ; page 22 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
m
*
i.
i
1
I
X
■: .r.vfl
writ
cxus Daily
■H MM
c v /*, W.\»
S; v I
t|sfff§
I#
Thursday, March 26,1985
■■. vsffis' t, ".'■' : '^v-1^1.. ........
North Texas State University, Denton, Texas
68th Year No. 91
Changing economy leads to tuition proposals
By KEVIN BRUNSON
Staff Writer
NT President Al Hurley said Wednesday a
tuition increase for Texas students is inevitable;
the question is how much of an increase it will
be.
He said students of state-supported colleges
and universities can expect “an inevitable increase
in tuition” in September.
"The Texas legislators are in search of dol-
lars that would not be raised through a tax bill.
There is an increasing cost of state services. Edu-
cation is perceived as a service. Hence the pres-
ent situation whereby tuition is being looked at
as a source of state revenue,” he said.
Hurley said he thought that a bill to raise
tuition. House Bill 1147, amended and passed
by the house March 19. may encounter difficul-
ties in the Texas Senate. The bill is waiting to
be considered by the Senate Finance Committee.
The bill, proposed by Wilhelmina Delco,
D-Austin, would double tuition for resident
students, making a semester hour cost $8 during
the 1985-86 school year and $14 during 1986-87.
The cost of a semester hour would then be in-
creased each year in $2 increments until reach-
ing $20 for 1989-1990.
Non-residents would pay $120 per semester
hour in 1985-86 and $180 in 1986-87. Tuition
would remain at that level until it no longer
covered 100 percent of the cost of education.
That cost is $123 per semester hour.
“My guess is that the House plan will be the
minimum increase. I have not seen the lieuten-
ant governor’s plan in writing, but he is trying
to bring the portion of tuition financing up to
100 percent of the cost,” Hurley said.
In a press conference Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Bill
Hobby proposed to spend $812.9 million on high-
er education, $325 million more than the Legis-
lative Budget Board’s original budget proposal.
Hobby wants to cover part of the cost by tri-
pling tuition for in-state resident^ to $12 per
semester hour in September and raising it to $16
per semester hour in September of 1987. The
increases would affect 380,000 students at 35
state colleges and universities.
His proposal would triple non-resident tuition
as well—from the current $40 per semester hour
to $120 per semester hour for the 1985-86 and
the 1986-87 school years. Hobby said the tuition
increases would raise $277 million over those
years.
Hurley said the $812 million needed by high-
er education has been caused by the state's declin-
ing profits from the sale of oil and gas, which
have traditionally been allocated in part to state-
supported schools.
“The state is changing from a primary depen-
dence on an oil and gas economy to a depen-
dence on a mixed economy. That includes oil
and gas and other elements such as high-tech
industries.
“1 think that you can expect to see a period
of reassessment. (House speaker) Gib Lewis told
me to expect a Perot-type commission to be estab-
lished to study higher education over the next
two years.”
Hurley and Walt Parker, vice president for
external affairs, have been going to Austin on a
weekly basis to track the developing legislation
and to testify before committees.
"Normally I go down there every Tuesday.
Sometimes we are required to testify,” said
Hurley, who serves as chairman for the State
Affairs Council of Presidents Committee and who
has formally testified for that committee three
times since the Legislature went in session.
He said it will be hard to measure the effec-
tiveness his presence until after a final tuition
plan is formulated. “Time will tell. We all work
together down there as a team. It’s a coopera-
tive effort of university presidents and members
of the Legislature. The Legislature has a very
difficult problem to solve.
"Vice president Parker and 1 provide informa-
tion to the Legislature. Our job is to keep them
informed about the impact of proposals intro-
duced and to work with them in every way
possible.”
Hurley said that although tuition increases are
certain, budget cuts may not be as severe as origi-
nally forecasted for the state’s universities. “The
situation in Austin changes on a daily basis. Right
now the trend is positive, but 1 emphasize it is a
trend. The state constitution requires that the
appropriated budget must be based on hard esti-
mates of revenue.”
He said he is expecting to receive a prelimi-
nary estimate of the university’s budget from
Austin. “We should have some numbers for plan-
ning purposes within another two weeks.”
Hurley said NT has two factors in its favor
that will lessen the blow of a reduced budget for
the next fiscal year. “NT is blessed for two
reasons.
“First, the quality of our programs, and relat-
ed to that is the growing awamess that we are a
quality university. The second consideration is
our location. Many people forecast this area to
double in population by the end of the century.
He said the statewide average of university
budget cut is expected to be less than 4 percent,
but NT's cut could be lower because increases
in enrollment is an important factor in the for-
mula used to appropriate money to each school.
“The odds are we will have less than a 3
percent cut,” Hurley said.
University official sees
increase as inevitable
By ROY MILLER
Staff writer
While several bills and proposals that will decide
the fate of higher education swirl in the rapids of the
Texas Legislature, two proposals to raise tuition have
prominently floated to the surface.
Dr. Robert Toulouse, NT provost and vice presi-
dent of academic affairs, discussed House Bill 1147,
known as the Delco plan, and a proposal by Lt. Gov.
Bill Hobby.
“It’s inevitable that tuition will rise in Texas,”
Toulouse said. He said he sees the Delco plan, origi-
nated by Rep. Wilhelmina Delco, D-Austin, as the
best way to remedy the state’s budgetary crisis.
The Delco plan calls for a doubling of tuition for
state resident undergraduates beginning next fall. It
would increase the cost from $4 a semester hour to
$8 a semester hour. Tuition would go up to $14 a
semester hour in 1986-87 and would rise $2 a semes-
ter hour each year until reaching $20 a semester hour
in 1989-90. A student taking a 15-hour course load
now pays $60 for tuition. Next fall he would pay
$120 for the same number of hours and by 1989-90,
15 hours would cost $300.
Harder hit by the Delco plan would be out-of-
state students, who now pay $40 a semester hour.
They would face a tripling of tuition to $120 next
fall and in 1986-87, it would rise to $180. Toulouse
said he sees this aspect of the bill as its chief
disadvantage.
“We should not increase out-of-state tuition so
much because this drives away the students, making
it impossible for them to come here. What I think
will happen is the new rate will be used but the
number of students will be greatly be reduced and
the income will not be at all be what it is assumed
it's going to be,” Toulouse said. Despite concern
about the high tuition costs, Toulouse said he praised
the Delco plan for remembering those who are eco-
nomically disadvantaged.
“Included in this bill is a fairly large percentage
of the tuition to be reserved for financial aid and it
is her (Delco’s) intent, and it is the university’s intent
also, to try to respond to the needs of the low-income
people who are trying to enroll.” The plan calls for
25 percent of the amount of tuition paid to be set
aside for student loans and scholarships. Toulouse
said he doubts the plan will pass unless changes are
made in the scholarship and loan provision.
Other advantages include:
• An increase in the amount of money the state
collects, which would help state university operations;
• The fact that the bill recognizes the plight of low-
income students with its provision for financial aid.
The Delco bill is under consideration by the Sen-
ate Finance Committee.
Hobby proposed an alternative proposal this week,
which emphasized tuition increases, faculty salaries
and research funding.
“Hobby’s proposal would almost bring funding
for the 1985-86 year to the current level of spending,”
Toulouse said. “It’s good in one sense only—it helps
state universities operate and helps fund (acuity sala-
ries but I'm not as happy at the source of funds
compared to the Delco plan,” he said.
This proposal would triple tuition next fall, rais-
ing the cost for state resident undergraduates to $12
a semester hour. It would raise it the following year
to $16 a semester hour. There is no mention of out-
of-state tuition increases.
The revenue collected from the higher tuition costs
would be used to “address the concerns of our faculty,
particularly the bright, young middle rank who are
on the way up,” said an Associated Press report. In
addition, revenues would be funneled into research
programs involving high-tech development such as
telecommunications, aerospace and biotechnology.
Although Toulouse said he thinks tripled tuition
rates within a year are a little steep, money is need-
ed for research and faculty salaries.
“We’ve had more resignations of excellent facul-
ty members recently than I can ever remember. I’ve
had four resign in the last two or three days,” he
said.
Jim Yancy, legislative aid for Sen. Grant Jones,
D-Abilene, said Hobby’s proposal would probably
be incorporated as an amendment into another bill,
rather than stand alone.
In another effort to find more revenue. State Comp-
troller Bob Bullock has eyed the possibility of using
the “bowl of gravy” or "local fees” of revenue
that colleges generate through student service fees,
athletic event, dormitory fees and other fees.
Toulouse said that although universities generate
revenue through fees, they could not be used for
other purposes. “While it’s true we do collect these
fees, the money is earmarked to pay off indebtedness."
For example, dorm fees help pay the bonds used
to purchase the land and pay for the building. Mon-
ey earned from athletic events is used to pay for the
events. “We don’t use state funds foi athletics so
these funds are for the athletic program,” Toulouse
said
A, ’>*$*
-I
■Vv > '
Photo by DAVID PHILLIP
CEMENT CITY—Mark Mills, David Delcambre and J.C. Kemp
pour concrete for a sidewalk between the General Academic
Building and the Power Plant. The sidewalk is one of several
new ones around campus.
• An increase in the amount ot money tne staie saiu. ^
Rec sports requests $437,595 in service fees
By TONYA McMURRAY
Staff Writer
The recreational sports department presented
its 1985-86 budget request to the Student Ser-
vice Fees Committee Wednesday, asking the com-
mittee to allocate $437,595 for the department’s
programs. That amount is nearly $250,000 more
than the $189,280 received by the department
for 1984-85.
The International Programs Office and the Cen-
ter for Studies in Aging also presented requests
Wednesday. The International Programs Office
requested $37,600. $12,100 more than the
$25,500 received last year. The Center for Stud-
ies in Aging requested $6,641, $5,841 more than
the $800 the center received for 1983-84.
THE STUDENT Service Fee Committee is
headed by the Student Association president and
comprises faculty and staff members and students.
The committee hears requests from student ser-
vices for the allocation of student service fees.
Student service fees are fees paid by students,
along with tuition and other fees, to help sup-
port student services. NT students pay $6 a semes-
ter hour for student service fees. A student taking
a full class load of 12 hours pays $72, the
maximum, in student service fees.
The Student Service Fee Committee listens to
requests from student services and makes recom-
mendations for the allocation of student service
fee funds. The committee’s recommendations are
given to the dean of students, who reviews the
committee’s suggestions and gives them, and any
of his own recommendations, to President Al
Hurley. Hurley reviews the requests and passes
them on to the Board of Regents.
The recreational sports department’s budget
request covers five major areas: recreational sports,
co-recreational and intramurals, club sports, the
lighting of the intramural fields and the renova-
tion of the field near the PE Building.
SUE ROBINSON, assistant recreational sports
director, presented the budget request for recre-
ation sports. The program is asking for $130,288,
an increase of $51,888 over the programs 1984-85
budget of $78,400.
Robinson said some of the additional money
would help pay for the installation of a locker
system for the racketball courts. The lockers
would be similar to the ones near the University
Store in the University Union. The additional
money would also help pay for three extra pieces
of equipment for the program’s weight room.
Robinson also presented the budget request
for the club sports program. The program is
requesting $45,116, $17,116 more than the
program's 1984-85 budget of $28,000.
The budget includes salaries and maintenance
and operation for the program as well as the
budget requests from the individual club sports.
Two contingency funds—one for new clubs and
one for travel expenses—are included in the
budget.
John Campbell, assistant recreational sports
director, presented the budget request for the intra-
mural and co-recreational sports. The program
is asking for $103,523, an increase of $20,643
over the group’s $82,880 budget for 1984-85.
THE INCREASE is needed because of in-
creased student participation and because a fence
is needed around the intramural fields. Camp-
bell said.
The budget request does not include the $20
entry fee now charged to teams participating in
the program. Campbell said the department wants
to use the fees only as a last resort and would
like to have the program funded totally from shi-
dent service fees.
The recreational sports department would like
to build a fence on the side of the intramural
fields that faces Bonnie Brae. The fence is need-
ed because balls and other equipment sometimes
go into the street, sometimes creating a danger-
ous situations, Campbell said.
Dr. Don Bailey of the education faculty asked
the committee to allocate $147,000 to light the
intramural fields. There is currently no lighting
Student
Received
Requested
Service
1984-85
1985-86
Recreational Sports
$ 78.400
$130,288
Co-Rec Sports
and Intramurals
82.888
103.523
Club Sports
28,000
45.116
Renovation of PEB field
0
11.666
Intramural Field Lighting
0
147.000
International Programs
25,500
37,601)
Center for Studies in Aging
800
6.641
at any of the fields except for the tennis courts
and Fouts Field. Bailey said, and the recreation-
al sports department cannot afford to pay for the
electricity at Fouts.
Bailey also asked the committee to allocate
$11.066 for the renovation of the field near the
PEB. The field was never really finished and it
has exposed rock and uncovered places where
there is hard dirt, Bailey said. The $11.666 the
department is asking the committee for will help
to fund one-third of the estimated $35,000 cost
of renovating the field. The department hopes
the athletic department and the physical educa-
tion division will help pay for the renovation
since those groups also use the field.
DR. THOMAS Hoemeke. director of interna
tional programs, presented the International Pro-
grams Office’s $37,600 request. The money
received from student service fees would help
fund the Study Abroad Program and the Interna-
tional Students Office. Hoemeke said
Most of the requested increase would be used
to hire addiuonal part-time employees. Hoemeke
said. The International Programs Office has not
had an increase in full-time faculty in six years.
Hoemeke said, and needs another full-time em-
ployee However, the office can use part-time
employees as well.
Janet Dolton. Brenham graduate student, pre-
sented the $6,641 budget request for the Center
for Studies in Aging The budget will go to help
support the center's student organization, which
does service projects for the elderly in the com-
munity and provides professionally oriented pro-
grams for students in the organization
1
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 91, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 28, 1985, newspaper, March 28, 1985; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth722956/m1/1/: accessed June 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.