Skip to content

UT board approves 9 percent increase

UT board approves 9 percent increase

Posted: Friday, June 25, 2010 9:04 pm

From AP, staff reports
The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees has approved a 9 percent tuition increase at the Knoxville, Martin and Chattanooga campuses.
Meanwhile, the state Board of Regents meets today and will consider tuition hikes of between 5 and 11.4 percent for its schools.
For the UT system, the increases range from $407 to $534 a year for in-state, undergraduate students at Knoxville, Martin and Chattanooga.
The new rates will become effective for the 2010 fall semester. For students attending the University of Tennessee at Martin, instate tuition and fees, including the new tuition rate, will now cost undergraduate students an additional $210.50 or $3,095 per semester. Full-time undergraduate enrollment is a minimum of 12 hours. Out-of-state undergraduate tuition will also increase 9 percent for an additional $722.50 or a total cost of $9,300 per semester.
Tuition and fees will increase $253 for instate graduate students at UT Martin for a total cost of $3,582 per semester starting this fall. Total cost for out-of-state graduate students will increase $765 to $9,787 per semester. Full-time graduate enrollment is nine hours per semester.
“This increase will enable UT Martin to sustain a high level of academic excellence and personalized student services while still holding tuition levels well below other states,” said Dr. Tom Rakes, UT Martin chancellor.
The system said in a news release that much of the new revenue will cover increases in operating costs and help prepare for looming reductions to recurring state funds for fiscal year 2012.
The trustees considered tuition increases of 8.5 percent, but decided to add dollars to protect the availability of courses and preserve students’ ability to complete their degree in a timely manner.
Other actions involving UT Martin that were approved included:
• A two-year pilot regional tuition rate for undergraduate students who meet current admissions standards but reside in three Mississippi counties contiguous to the state. This regional rate would include all in-state charges plus an additional 20 percent out-of-state differential for eligible students from Alcorn, Tippah and Tishomingo counties. The regional tuition rate will begin fall 2010. Since 1998, UT Martin has administered the UT Martin McNairy County Center/Selmer, which serves McNairy County and the Southwest Tennessee area bordering Mississippi.
• The naming of the alumni center as the Nick and Cathy Dunagan Alumni Center in honor of the Dunagans, both UT Martin alumni. He is chancellor emeritus and she is the university’s former first lady.
• The naming of the Kelly Murray Investment Management Room in the Business Administration Building; the Steven E. Rogers Media Center in the Paul Meek Library; the Kathleen Elam Multipurpose Room in the Bob Carroll Football Building; the Houston Gordon Museum in the Paul Meek Library; and the Dorotha Norton Classroom in Gooch Hall.
• A $3.3 million campus lighting upgrade.
• A $20 special course fee/academic enrichment fee for Department of Agriculture, Geosciences and Natural Resources classes that is estimated to generate $34,860 annually to be used for experiential learning.
Published in The Messenger 6.25.10