At the Auburn University Board of Trustees meeting Friday, April 12, approvals were made for a 4.5 percent tuition increase, Student Activity Center renovation architect, Toomer's Corner redevelopment architect and Telfair Peet Theatre addition budget increase.
The decision made will raise tuition for students, on average, by 4.5 percent. The average coming from the difference of in-state tuition raises versus out of state tuition raises. For in-state residents tuition will be raised by approximately $400 while those residing out of the state of Alabama will see a 600-dollar increase.
Don Large made the proposal, but had this statement to make before he made showed his presentation to the board:
"I know the last thing the board wants to do is raise tuition and you've stood strong by that in the past."
Many members of the board discussed, in depth, the decision before moving forward. President Jay Gogue talked about the promise he made with student leaders back in 2008. He met with students at the beginning of the economic downturn and the decision was made that no classes would be taken away, to ensure students would be able to receive the hours they needed to graduate despite the economic recession.
Gogue also made clear to the board that it had been decided that when costs began to pile up that students would only take on half of those costs through tuition rates increasing. The other half would be taken care of internally with administration and the board. This differs from several other higher education institutions who throw almost all budget increases onto the student body.
Student Government Association president, Harrison Mills spoke on both sides of the issue saying he knew several students were paying their own way through college and that an increase in tuition would obviously be very hard on them as well as families with multiple children in college at the same time. He also said that he understood administration having to increase tuition because of the economy and to remain competitive on the collegiate level. Mills spoke to the board directly asking them to ensure that they were being good stewards of the money they received from tuition.
Board member, B.T. Roberts said with these increases they had to ensure Auburn was not pricing itself out of the market of the students it was formed for and intended to serve and educate.
Board member Gaines Lanier urged the board to consider that this was one of the lowest increases he had seen in his time on the board. Lanier said that Auburn did not need to miss the opportunity it would be very difficult for the University to find an alternative to raise that money later down the road.
After much discussion the motion passed and in June Mr. Large and the budget committee will return to the board with the final proposal for this decision so that for the 2013-2014 school year students would see these increases.
Because the new Recreation and Wellness Center is being built, the Board of Trustees can now consider what the current Student Activity Center should be used for.
A possible use for the center would be an auditorium, for physical education courses. Athletics may be able to use part of the center.
Renovation will cost more than $750,000.
The Board approved the architect reviewing process for the renovation of the Student Activity Center, which is expected to happen by June.
There was also a request for a redevelopment of Toomer's Corner.
"It's one of the iconic spaces on Auburn's campus," said Dan King, assistant vice president for facilities management. "This is an actual project that we can move on to begin the architect selection process."
The board approved this motion.
The last approval was on the Telfair Peet addition budget increase of $690,000, which would come from the College of Liberal Arts.
The meeting also reviewed the status of demolition of campus buildings and new construction, renovation, and infrastructure projects with budgets of $750,000 and greater.
The two buildings they hope to demolish by this summer is Dustan Hall, near Magnolia Avenue, and the Physiology Building, a 1922 structure.
"In my opinion, it's the worst building on campus," King said. "They have snakes and frogs and it's just a really creepy building. Both buildings are not worth renovating."
Owen Parrish, former SGA president, reflected over his year as president at Auburn.
"Thank you for investing in me," Parrish said. "I pray that you continue to do that with Harrison and future student leaders at Auburn."
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