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WKU Regents pass $402 million budget; hear housing plan Despite "significant revenue challenges," university ekes out a 3% salary increase. Sixty employees moved from university to management firm. Tuition increases held to $215 per semester Click on headline for complete story By Bob Skipper News from Western Kentucky University BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky University's Board of Regents today (June 24) passed a $402 million budget for 2016-17 and heard about a 10-year housing master plan from the WKU Student Life Foundation. WKU President Gary A. Ransdell said the budget presented "significant revenue challenges," but the University was able to meet several goals, including a 3 percent salary increase over 12 months and minimal impact on campus employment. "Throughout the budget process, we focused on maintaining and enhancing the quality of the learning environment for our students while not compromising safety, essential maintenance or our core strengths," Dr. Ransdell said. Ann Mead, Senior Vice President for Financial Affairs, said WKU had to incorporate a 4.5 percent decrease in state funding ($3.36 million), fixed cost increases (including an increase in employer contribution to Kentucky Employee Retirement System) and less-than-projected tuition income. A balanced budget was achieved through internal reallocations; moving about 200 Facilities Management employees from WKU to SODEXO, which oversees facilities and maintenance; eliminating about 60 unfilled budgeted positions and a 4.5 percent ($215) per semester tuition increase for resident undergraduate students. Tuition and fees make up 50.9 percent of the budget. Undergraduate resident tuition will be $4,956 per semester beginning with the fall 2016 semester. State appropriations, including nearly $5 million for the Gatton Academy for Mathematics and Science and $750,000 for the statewide weather monitoring network the Kentucky Mesonet, make up 17.9 percent. Restricted funds (grants and contracts and student financial aid), self-generated funds and auxiliary enterprises make up the rest of the budget. Housing Master Plan WKU's Student Life Foundation is embarking on 10-year plan to provide housing that is more in line with the style students prefer. Brian Kuster, WKU's Vice President for Student Affairs and Executive Director of the Student Life Foundation, said the plan was developed after an extensive survey of students' preferences. "We are not looking to increase the number of beds we offer, but plan to build to address the demand," Kuster said. "Students are more interested in suite-style rooms and rooms with private baths over the more traditional community-style housing." The Student Life Foundation is a non-profit organization that owns and operates WKU's residence halls. The Foundation's strong financial position will allow it to implement the plan with no impact to the University's budget, he said, adding "providing the style of housing students prefer makes WKU even more attractive to them." The first phase of the plan begins this fall when construction on a new hall begins along College Heights Boulevard, near Gilbert and Rodes Harlin halls. Kuster said the building, which will include 400 beds in suite-style rooms, will also include a dining facility and will open in the fall of 2018. The beds will be needed as Barnes-Campbell and Bemis-Lawrence halls are demolished and replaced. Also this fall, work will begin on Northeast and Southwest halls to expand the lobbies from one to four stories, providing additional common space for studying and meetings. Kuster said the plan will group housing in districts, with freshman concentrated in the southern end of campus, upperclassmen in the Valley and Northeast and Southwest halls designated as the Global Learning area for international students and students in the WKU Honors College. "Housing at WKU remains in high demand, which allows the Student Life Foundation to more than cover our debt service and reinvest in our housing portfolio to meet students' needs," Kuster said. This story was posted on 2016-06-25 06:16:05
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ACMS Site Council special called meeting, Mon 27 Jun 2016 CU honors two with Algernon Sydney Sullivan awards AC School Board Special Called Meeting 20 Jun 2016 - REPORT Spring 2016 - 12 CU graduates from Adair Co. KY, Supt. Reed gives upbeat report - 16 Jun 2016 meeting Adair School Board may resolve school bus garage issues today Cumberland Co, students named to WKU Spring 2016 Honors List Green County students named to WKU Spring 2016 Honors List ACPC: Camp Rocket ACHS Site Council regular session: Mon 20 Jun 2016 View even more articles in topic Education |
 
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