At this week’s Board of Regents meeting, the Board members raised tuition and fees, approved the naming of the McCoy College of Science, Mathematics and Engineering, authorized the purchase of $1.2 million worth of pianos and authorized the first phase of the Moffett Library renovation.

Full-time students will being feeling the effect increase in fees, but only newly admitted students will be feeling the effect from the increase in tuition.

Board members raised the University Services Fee from $72.65 to $80.65 per semester credit hour, an $8 increase.

The money acquired from the increase in tuition and fees will be put toward a number of things such as student scholarships.

Marilyn Fowlé, vice president of administration and finance, said, “The increase in fees is being used for various different ways. We use it to pay raises for those getting paid through tuition and fees. That money is going to adding folks to staff from compliance.”

Board members also raised the Student Services Fee from $17.05 to $18.75 per semester credit hour and raised the designated tuition rate for new students to $133 per semester credit hour.

After cuts from the state added up to $1.7 million, the university budget came up short around $700,000.

In addition to increasing income, Fowlé said, there are numerous ways faculty and staff have learned to save money.

“Any staff vacancy is open for a month and we can capture the savings from having the vacancy open,” Fowlé said.

Further, faculty and staff have also managed to save around $300,000 – $400,000 on utilities alone.

According to a campus-wide email sent out by Julie Gaynor, director of marketing and public relations, the Board did the following:

• Approved the naming of the following:
  • McCoy College of Science, Mathematics and Engineering
  • Bridwell Activities Center
  • Cannedy Greek Commons
  • Bryant Edwards Facilities Administration
• Approved changing the date of Spring Break 2019 to March 18 to align with Wichita Falls ISD
• Approved the increase of tuition and fees
• Authorized the administration to contract with the construction manager at Risk, M&F Litteken, for renovations to Moffett Library at a value to not be more than $2 million
• Approved the resolution for the Board of Regents to recognize and express gratitude to the following foundations:
  • J.S. Bridwell Foundation
  • Bryant Edwards Foundation
  • The Fain Foundation
  • James N. McCoy Foundation
  • Perkins-Prothro Foundation
  • The Priddy Foundation

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said, “Board members raised the University Services Fee from $72.65 to $80.65, an $8 increase.” The Wichitan regrets this error.