CHARLESTON - The West Virginia University Board of Governors on Thursday approved a budget that includes a 5 percent increase in tuition and fees.
The board, meeting in Charleston, approved a budget for fiscal 2013 totaling $917 million, including $10 million, 2 percent, for a pool financing salary increases going into effect in October.
The classified staff salary schedule was fully funded last year and a new compensation model will be introduced for staff, the board said. A merit-driven system will continue to be used for faculty and non-classified employee increases.
The 5 percent tuition increase for students on the Morgantown campus will result in a $145 increase per semester for resident undergraduate students and a $449 increase for non-resident undergraduate students. A one-time fee of $63 per semester also is being implemented to replace all the individual course fees that were once charged, bringing undergraduate tuition and fees for resident students from $2,837 to $3,045 and from $8,922 to $9,434 a semester a semester for non-resident students.
Graduate and professional students will also see modest increases. Dining and housing plans will also increase by 4.5 percent, or around $100 a semester.
"These modest increases will provide additional revenue for our campus in order to continue to offer our students the classes, the facilities and the academic excellence they deserve," WVU Provost Michele Wheatly said. "While other states have realized drastic cuts to state funding, our Legislature has continued to keep our state's higher education commitment steady. We are truly appreciative of that support; however, we still must deal with rising costs and a competitive market place to keep WVU's programs and facilities competitive with our peer flagships across the country."
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The Board Also...
Approved an amendment to the university's sexual harassment policy to broaden it to cover all types of sexual discrimination and misconduct, not just sexual harassment.
Approved a 22,000-square-foot, $12.8 million addition to the WVU College of Law to modernize classrooms, offices, clinic space and other areas critical to the school. The last significant renovations since its initial construction were in 1971.
Created three new departments in the School of Medicine: department of radiation oncology, department of clinical translational science and department of medical education
Dissolution of the School of Applied Social Sciences within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, and approval of a change in academic titles of those programs
The board also approved a policy prohibiting tobacco use by employees, students and visitors on the main campus beginning July 1, 2013. The change amends an earlier decision by the board to approve a similar policy on the campus of the Health Sciences Center.
The policy extends to the premises owned, operated, leased or occupied by WVU. However, an exemption can be made for events that attract a large number of off-campus visitors, with the approval of the vice president for administration and finance, provided smoking is restricted to designated outdoor smoking areas. That could include concerts and athletic events.
The existing policy does not extend to the divisional campuses, however, the president has the authority to extend it. Cessation programs and resources will also be available to employees and students.
