Students who have felt bombarded with new fees got a chance Tuesday to “chat” with the man who makes most of the important decisions that affect the University.
Chancellor Mark Emmert explained the need for student fees and where the money goes during Student Government’s first-ever “Chat with the Chancellor.”
During the past few years, students have noticed a long list of new fees and increases to existing fees including an Academic Excellence Fee, a utility surcharge, a union fee increase and a technology fee.
SG President Allen Richey said he chose student fees as the topic for the first forum because of the confusion and concern about the increase to the Academic Excellence Fee that the Board of Supervisors passed this summer.
Emmert said the Board of Supervisors did not purposefully propose the plan during the summer while many students were not on campus. He promised students he would make “every effort” to make sure it does not happen again.
Although he appreciates student feedback on every issue, Emmert said the Board of Supervisors is not obligated to bring tuition increases and student fees before students.
Emmert said he does not want students to feel as though the University is taking their money for no reason.
“We want to make sure that you’re seeing a return on that investment,” Emmert said. “This time next year, I’m hopeful that we’ll have around 40 new faculty members.”
The fee increase was necessary to finance faculty pay-raises and hire new faculty members, Emmert said.
Robert Kuhn, associate vice chancellor for budget and planning, said a part of the $6 million generated from the 2001 Academic Excellence Fee helped give many faculty members a 3 percent pay-raise.
Kuhn said students have reaped the benefits of faculty pay-raises and additional faculty members because the University was able to add 300 new course sections with revenue from the first Academic Excellence Fee in 2001.
Emmert also said some revenue from the newly-increased fee is going to offset the cost of the University’s rising everyday costs.
Even with the recent increases in fees, Emmert said the typical University student who is a Louisiana resident and is receiving the TOPS scholarship is paying about $450 to attend the University. He said this is a pretty impressive number when compared to the price many students are paying for education.
SG Executive Assistant Michelle Gieg said she was happy with the discussion at the forum. but hopes more students will show up for next month’s “chat.”
SG will announce the date, time and topic of the next “Chat with the Chancellor” in October.