The Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) Board of Trustees met on March 18 to review and approve tuition rates for the 2016-17 academic year, and review operating and capital budget directions for the 2017-19 biennial budget.
2016-17 Tuition: Jay Kenton, Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration at Oregon Tech, presented the tuition proposal to the Board, noting the factors that influenced the level of increase. He summarized Oregon Tech’s financial position, reporting that expenditures are tracking in line with revenues; the fund balance is healthy and will help the campus at least partially deal with upcoming increases in PERS and other compensation costs. Dr. Kenton said that there are many open positions, some in the process of being filled, and others that will be reviewed against an analysis of future revenue. He noted that besides determining the upcoming budgets, he would be producing an analysis with a long-term trajectory to help with future planning and resource allocation. Kenton said that Oregon Tech offers a tremendous value proposition for students, with high student success rates from employment and salaries compared to costs of tuition and borrowing rates.
Kenton noted that the recommendation from staff in the docket and from Oregon Tech’s Tuition Committee is to raise tuition 3 percent in all categories: undergraduate, graduate, resident and nonresident. Oregon Tech’s FOAC group has also endorsed the 3% increase. Recommended mandatory fee rates are: Incidental fee – increase from $310 to $325 as recommended by ASOIT; Health Service Fees - no change from 2015-16; Building Fees - no change from 2015-16. After some discussion, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the recommended tuition and fee rates for 2016-17.
| Proposed Base Tuition and Fee Rates for 2016-17 Academic Year | ||||||||
| Annual Rates for RESIDENT UNDERGRADUATE Students at 15 Credit Hours Per Term. | ||||||||
| Tuition Type | Proposed 2016-2017 Tuition | Actual 2015-16 Tuition | $ Change over 2015-16 | % change over 2015-16 | Proposed 2016-17 Tuition and Fees | Actual 2015-16 Tuition & Fees | $ change over 2015-16 | % change over 2015-16 |
| Base Tuition Klamath Falls Campus | $7,543 | $7,324 | $219 | 3% | $9,103 | $8,839 | $264 | 3% |
| Base Tuition Wilsonville Campus | $7,543 | $7,324 | $219 | 3% | $7,960 | $7,786 | $174 | 2% |
Emergency Repairs Capital Project: Dr. Kenton summarized the recent legislative approval of $5,036,625 in state-paid XI-Q bonds to fund emergency repairs at Oregon Tech. The university was awarded, from the State of Oregon, $763,125 in emergency repair funds to pay for engineering analysis, emergency electrical repair and replacement of the failing College Union electrical supply feed; $4,273,500 for emergency storm drainage repair and replacement of the failing College Union storm drainage system; and approximately $33,375 to cover the debt issuance costs. The Board voted unanimously to approve the capital project budget and to authorize the VP of Finance and Administration, or designee, to execute contracts and project related instruments to complete the project.
Operating and Capital Budget: Kenton said that the HECC requested the seven public universities to analyze different funding level scenarios to determine a 2017-19 biennium operating and capital budget-funding request. This is due to the HECC on April 1. Oregon Tech’s capital list includes the new Center for Excellence in Engineering and Technology; Cornett Hall renovation; a new Student Center building; and the Boivin Hall modernization. After some discussion, that Board authorized the submittal of the seven public universities budget scenarios and the capital budget to the HECC.
Other information and discussion items presented to the Board at the meeting included:
- LeAnn Maupin, Dean of the College of Health, Arts, and Sciences, gave an update on the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Accreditation process.
- Board Secretary Sandra Fox gave an update on upcoming Board vacancies and the process of applying for positions.
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