Arkansas State University will not increase tuition for the 2018-19 school year, fees will rise

The Arkansas State University Board of Trustees voted Thursday to small student fee increases, but opted for no change for tuition rates for in-state students.

Board members met at the ASU Mid-South campus in West Memphis and during the meeting approved a $282 million operating budget for the upcoming school term, a 0.3% increase from the previous year, ASU President Chuck Welch said. Board members also voted to extend Welch’s contract until 2023.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson had previously asked public colleges in the state to not increase tuition for in-state students, and Welch said each campus had to find ways to save money to comply with the governor’s wishes. Part of the budget increase includes state funding tied to the higher education productivity formula, meaning the budget would have slightly dipped when compared to last year, he added.

“We felt like it was a request we could abide by,” he said.

The ASU-Jonesboro campus will add a $4 per credit hour security fee and $1 increase to the academic excellence fee. The $40 per year yearbook fee will be terminated, meaning students on average will pay 1.53% more during the upcoming school year, or $130, according to the school. Full time, in state tuition will cost $8,608 per year.

ASU Mid-South will have no increase in fees. ASU-Beebe will add $1 per credit hour for security and $1 per credit hour for infrastructure. ASU-Mountain Home and ASU-Newport will add $1 per credit hour for security.

“Despite being the second-largest public university, A-State will have only the sixth-highest cost in the state,” Welch said. “The governor also asked for no more than a 2.1% increase at the two-year institutions, and our four campuses won’t be raising tuition at all. The overall financial impact on students at every campus will be very minimal, and the additional productivity funding from the state certainly helps make this possible.”

Students had pushed for additional safety measures, and Welch said it was something the administration took seriously. Areas on campuses that needed more lighting were identified, and the extra money collected will be used to pay for safety equipment and additional personnel, he said.

The ASU-Jonesboro budget will be $167.8 million. It includes a 1% merit pool to be used for faculty raises. Salary increases of up to 2% will be considered at mid-year, and will be based, in-part, on enrollment revenues, according to the school.

Employees at the ASU-Beebe and ASU-Newport campuses will receive a 2% cost of living raises for faculty. ASU-Mountain Home will give a $1,500 cost of living increase for faculty and non-classified staff and 2% cost of living raise plus up to a 3% merit increase for classified staff. ASU Mid-South budgeted no salary increases.

In other business, the board approved the appointment of Dr. Jennifer Methvin as chancellor of ASU-Beebe with a three-year contract effective July 1 and an annual salary of $194,000. Interim chancellor Roger Moore will return to his role as vice chancellor for finance and administration at the institution.

The board voted to create a reorganized College of Engineering and Computer Science on the Jonesboro campus. Engineering had been part of the College of Agriculture and computer science had been part of the College of Math and Science. ASU Jonesboro Chancellor Kelly Damphousse explained why the reorganization was needed.

“I have heard from local and regional industry about the need for more engineers in our region, and we know that computer engineering and programming is one of those areas of special interest to a growing number of technology businesses in the Jonesboro area,” Damphousse said.  “After speaking with our faculty over the course of the spring semester, I am recommending this change that allows us to become better prepared to meet these needs.”

College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Tim Burcham will serve as the interim dean while a search for a new dean is conducted.