With the LSU Board of Supervisors discussing a revised admissions system in order to increase enrollment, another increase may happen as well – fees received by the University. The Board aims to bring the current 28,000-student campus to a 32,000-student campus beginning next semester. Full-time undergraduate student Required Fees totaled $372.80 this past fall, and if enrollment increases to 32,000, the University could gain nearly $1.5 million in Required Fees. This could be good news to students. With various departments receiving more funds in student fees, they may be able to increase or maintain services without further fee increases. Ken Bueche, associate director of the Student Union, said the increased funding from student fees may “offset” costs to match future inflation. Despite a possible funding increase, Bueche said there are no plans to make new renovation projects to the Union. Rather, he said he plans for the money to go to normal maintenance of equipment and infrastructure. Because the proposal to increase enrollment is speculative, Bueche said the Union has no current budget of additional funds. “We’d really have to see how it plays out,” he said. “We don’t really have any details yet.” Some departments that receive student fees say increased enrollment could benefit students in terms of services and fees. Arthur Goulas, Student Health Center director, said he is looking forward to more students coming to the University. “I would certainly enjoy an upturn in enrollment,” he said. “It would slow future fee increases.” Goulas said as a “fee-based” unit of the University, the Health Center would certainly benefit from a fee increase. But increasing enrollment would take time. “You can’t turn around a slumping enrollment in one semester,” Goulas said. The “slumping enrollment” Goulas mentioned to is the decrease in enrollment since fall 2004. Total enrollment then totaled 31,561 and has declined since. Goulas said though an increase in fees would allow the Health Center to improve its services, he is not expecting to add much. “I’d like to think the future increases wouldn’t be drastic,” he said. Goulas said he aims to “just keep what [they currently] have.” Although Goulas does not think the Health Center will add many more services, he would like be able to better assist students seeking psychiatric help. “If we have any extra money here in the near future, we’d hire a mental health clinician,” Goulas said. “We’re getting more students with more complex issues.” The Board plan to revise the admissions system does not necessarily mean a reduction in admissions standards but may be revised to consider extracurricular activities in addition to test scores and GPA. The stated goal of a possible admission requirement revision is to increase enrollment numbers, retain students and increase graduation rate.
—-Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]