5/22/2008 - Jackson, Miss.

In a unanimous decision during its regular monthly meeting, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) approved for first reading annual resident tuition increases ranging from $157 to $214 per year to offset inflationary costs and an increase in state funding of only 1.2 percent for the upcoming fiscal year.

"The Board understands the financial burden a tuition increase places on our students and parents," said Board President Amy Whitten. "However, our universities have received level or declining funding through state appropriations for seven of the last nine years. These minimal tuition increases will at least help our institutions offset budgetary inflation costs."

The following annual resident tuition increases were approved by the Board today for 30-day review per Board policy 702.04C:

Alcorn State University: $175 (4.0%) increase to $4,498 annually
Delta State University: $201 (4.7%) increase to $4,449 annually
Jackson State University: $157 (3.5%) increase to $4,634 annually
Mississippi State University: $172 (3.5%) increase to $5,150 annually
Mississippi University for Women: $214 (5.1%) increase to $4,423 annually
Mississippi Valley State University: $158 (3.6%) increase to $4,575 annually
University of Mississippi: $173 (3.5%) increase to $5,107 annually
University of Southern Mississippi: $181 (3.7%) increase to $5,096 annually

In other news, the Board approved the allocation of state appropriated funds among the universities based on the Board’s funding formula. The Board also approved a priority list for facilities needs to be submitted to the 2009 Legislature. The needs include fire suppression systems at Mississippi University for Women, a campus security project at Jackson State University, and various building renovations throughout the System. At the Commissioner’s recommendation, the Board also approved the use of Atlanta-based executive search firm Baker and Associates, LLC, as the search consultant for the current Mississippi State University presidential search.

The Board will hold its next regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

Under the leadership of the Board of Trustees, IHL governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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