Thursday, March 16, 2000
NKU funding clears House
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Northern Kentucky University is in line to receive a 10 percent increase in state funding with Wednesday's House passage of the state budget bill.
The additional $7.2 million will mean NKU students pay less for their education, President James Votruba told the Board of Regents at a regular meeting Wednesday.
With a budget of $80 million, NKU has comparatively been under-funded by the state, even though it offers one of the most inexpensive college educations in the region.
NKU student tuition now pays 55 percent of the cost of college. Tuition is $1,010 a semester this year.
Tuition paid by students at other universities covers an average of 36 percent of the school's total costs.
“We know that the stakes are large,” Dr. Votruba said. “But this is more than for NKU. This will benefit the region and quality of life in the region.”
The task for NKU officials now is to make sure funding remains in the budget as the bill lumbers through the Senate.
NKU's package of proposed state financial aid also includes:
• $12 million to replace a 28-year-old power plant on campus.
• $1 million to plan and design the renovation of NKU's old science building. (A new $38 million science center, which the legislature funded two years ago, is under construction.)
• $1.3 million in debt service to finance bonds.
• $700,000 to lease space for a regional worker training center called METS or the Metropolitan Educa tion and Training Services Center.
Student Regent Chris Boggs said he thinks the funding will come through. Mr. Boggs has spent extensive time lobbying with legislators for the additional money.
Without the increase in benchmark funding, NKU would likely institute an 8 percent tuition increase, instead of the approved 5.5 percent increase.
“As long as we get the support of our Northern Kentucky legislators, we will get that funding,” Mr. Boggs said.
Even so, tuition will increase next year by $56, to $1,066 a semester. Student housing and meals fees will increase 10 percent.
The technology fee will jump from $20 a semester to $60 a semester for full-time students. The increase will generate $574,100 for improved Internet and computer technology services for students.
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