Tuition increases still unknown, remain under review

%C2%A0

 

By Austin McNeill

With state budget cuts being a topic of discussion, some have wondered how cuts would affect university tuition costs. Wednesday, members of the UK community came together to learn about the possibility of a tuition increase.

Angie Martin, vice president of financial operations and treasurer at UK, addressed about 40 people atWorsham Theater Wednesday about the increases in tuition and mandatory fees.

Martin said on April 23rd the state government will set the parameters of how much UK can raise its tuition. About a year ago, UK capped its tuition increase at 5 percent.

“Students ask me how come their tuition goes up but they never see anything,” Martin said. “I respond with ‘to teach a student there are two things needed: state appropriations and tuition. If state appropriations go down, then tuition will go up.’ ”

The tuition and state appropriations are used for teaching, public service, administrative support and scholarships, she said.

This means if the state gives UK less money, then students will have to pay more money to keep UK in positive numbers, she said.

Martin said UK has a yearly budget of more than $2.4 billion.

“We are a non-profit organization, and we normally do not make a profit.”

Calvin Hobson, a broadcast journalism senior, went to the forum and disagreed.

”She [Martin] said that UK is a $2.4 billion enterprise,” Hobson said. “With that number I don’t see where it is all spent. I see a profit being made somewhere.”

Martin acknowledged 2010 as the third straight year that faculty and administration would not receive a raise.

Martin said the fate of tuition increases at UK is unknown right now.

“As of right now, there is more that I don’t know than I do know,” Martin said.