Indiana State University Newsroom

The Indiana State University Board of Trustees approved a new tuition and fees schedule and operating budgets at its meeting Friday.

Tuition for an in-state full-time undergraduate student will increase 1.9 percent to $4,458 a semester in 2017-18, an $85 uptick over last year. The cost for the same student in 2018-19 is $4,545 per semester, an $87 increase.

No public comments were made at the public hearing held on June 7 to receive input on the proposed increases.

"This modest tuition increase will allow the university to continue providing a quality education, despite what have become annual reductions in state appropriations," said Indiana State President Dan Bradley. "As our enrollment has grown, we have implemented operating efficiencies to trim costs as much as possible and wherever possible. This tuition increase would have been much greater if it weren't for these efficiencies."

The state operating appropriation decreased by $774,754 from 2016-17 because of performance-based funding metrics, said Diann McKee, senior vice president of finance and administration and treasurer for Indiana State. A net decrease in State appropriations of $355,000 occurs over the 2017-2019 biennium.

Among the noteworthy items in the General Fund budget, McKee said, is an appropriation from the 2017 Indiana General Assembly of an additional $2,350,000 dedicated to sustaining and expanding student success initiatives at State.

"We are grateful for the continued operating and capital support from the state of Indiana, particularly in recognition of our continued efforts surrounding student success initiatives," McKee said.

The university will also received as a special line item from the state nearly $1.4 million in repair and rehabilitation funding to help maintain buildings in each year of the 2017-2019 biennium.

Overall projected revenue and expense for Indiana State's 2017-18 General Fund budget is $189,300,000. Tuition (55.7 percent) and state appropriations (34.4 percent) make up the majority of Indiana State's projected revenue for 2017-2018.

"It's a fairly routine budget - we're continuing initiatives that have already been put into place, including strategic plan initiatives," McKee said.

The 2017-18 operating budget contains a projected 1.25 percent increase pool for salary adjustments, plus amounts set aside for faculty and staff target salary programs. Criteria for salary adjustments will be determined once enrollment numbers are known for the fall 2017 semester and an assessment of overall budgetary conditions has been made.

The budget also reflects a 1.25 percent increase in student wages and a 2 percent increase in university scholarships.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the position profile for national advertising and recruiting candidates for the next university president. The profile was developed by the Presidential Search Committee and incorporates feedback received from a stakeholders' survey and campus-wide listening sessions.

After nearly a decade leading Indiana State, Bradley announced on April 26 his plans to step down as the university's eleventh president, effective January 2018.

"The past nine years have been amazing and rewarding. As has often been said, however, there is a time for everything. Now is our time to reflect, to enjoy our grandkids and to plan our next great adventure," said Bradley of himself and his wife, Cheri. "Seventeen years as a university president and a first lady on two campuses is undoubtedly enough."

• Recognized the service of trustees Bob Baesler and Haley Gravely, whose terms are ending this month.

"We wish Haley well as she heads off to South Africa or some other destination assigned by the Peace Corps. It will be exciting to see what she accomplishes in the future, and I know she will make her alma mater proud," Bradley said.

"Bob is completing his second term as one of our alumni trustees. He has been an excellent leader, serving in numerous roles including as chair of the board. As a local trustee, Bob has also represented the board at countless university events for which we are all extremely grateful. Cheri and I look forward to continuing our friendship and to see Bob and Julie at many university and community events," Bradley added.

Tuesday, Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed Cynthia Powers of Valparaiso, president of Powers Realty Inc. of Northwest Indiana, as an alumni trustee and Andrew Case of Columbia City, a junior majoring in communication, as student trustee. Powers' term expires June 30, 2021, and Case's expires June 30, 2019.

Holcomb reappointed trustees Ed Pease and Jeff Taylor. Greg Goode, executive director of government relations at Indiana State, was appointed to the Midwestern Higher Education Commission by Holcomb.

• Approved the revisions to Policy 655.3 Open (Access to Public) Records Law, including renaming the policy 655.3 Access to Public Records.

• Approved academic calendars for 2018-19 and 2019-20, which continue a similar schedule as the previous two years with the exception of spring break. Faculty Senate proposed a change in date to attempt to coincide with Vigo County School Corporation's spring break.

The board is scheduled to meet next for its annual retreat on Wednesday, Aug. 30 and Thursday, Aug. 31 in Indianapolis.

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Media contact: Libby Roerig, director of communications and media relations, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3790 or libby.roerig@indstate.edu