Faced with a 4.5 percent state budget reduction and mandated increases in insurance premiums totaling some $15 million, West Virginia University’s Board of Governors Friday approved tuition and fee increases of approximately 11 percent for in-state students and 12 percent for out-of-state students, pending approval of the Higher Education Policy Commission.

The board also authorized the sale of properties for an urban renewal project and approved replacing the Coliseum roof.

The tuition increase amounts to 9.5 percent for residents and 10.5 percent for nonresidents, plus a 1.5 percent increase for capital improvements. Legislation passed this session allows for this addition to the statutory limit of a 9.5 percent increase for residents if institutions meet certain benchmarks.

For the main campus in Morgantown, the 11 percent increase translates into $195 more for resident undergraduates per semesterfrom $1,774 to $1,969and the 12 percent increase for nonresidents means $646 more per semesterfrom $5,384 to $6,030.

Some health sciences students will see slightly higher increases, officials said.

Underlying the difficult decision to raise tuition, board members and University officials said, is the need to maintain the quality and excellence of WVU ’s academic programs.

WVU’s budget has suffered serious cuts over the past several yearsa combined $22 million last year for the main campus in Morgantown, including health sciences, and our regional campusesand $28-30 million if you factor in the mandated insurance and other costs,Provost Gerald Lang said.

This year, we’re facing another $15 million when you factor in state budget reductions and mandated costs on our main campus alone. Unfortunately, some of that income must come from student tuition and fees,he noted,as well as continued cost-saving and streamlining measures across campus lines.

Lang said students may be concerned with the rate hikes, but he believes they understand the economic challenges the University is facing and appreciate the exceptional educational experience received at WVU .

WVU students are savvy enough to know that this trendtuition increasesis occurring across the country as state budgets for higher education decline,Lang said.And I believe they know that this administration and its faculty and staff are doing everything we can to provide quality educational and student life experiences for them.

WVU President David Hardesty noted that despite the increases, WVU remains competitively priced among its peers across the country and anexcellent educational value.

Private supportsuch as the totals recently announced during the capital campaign celebrationwill be increasingly important, however, to continue to fund scholarships for deserving WVU students.

The board also approved tuition and fee increases at WVU Parkersburg, Potomac State College of WVU and the WVU Institute of Technology as follows:

• only meal rates will rise at Potomac State

• WVU Parkersburg offers both bachelor’s and associate degrees; a 3.05 percent increase per semester was proposed for residents ($33) and a 3.14 percent increase ($90) for nonresidents. For the Community and Technical College, the proposed increase is 2.96 percent ($24) for residents and 3 percent ($84) for nonresidents.

• WVUIT is requesting a 11 percent increase and a $20 equity fee for eligible students (allowed under House Bill 101) for in-state undergraduates ($203) and a 12.49 percent increase for nonresidents ($524) per semester. The Metro fee would increase by 12.42 percent, or $364, under the plan. Graduate students would see an increase of 12.08 percent, or $223, for residents and 12.43 percent for nonresidents.

• For Tech’s Community and Technical College, a 3 percent increase per semester ($44) is recommended for residents; 11.92 percent increase ($500) for nonresidents. The Metro fee increase is 9.6 percent, or $272.

Pending the signing of Senate Bill 448, the board requests will now go before the Higher Education Policy Commission or the Community and Technical College Council for approval.

In other action, the board approved the sale of three properties to the City of Morgantown for the cooperative development of The Square at Falling Run. Those include a 1-acre parcel in theOld Stadium Loop,a .23-acre parcel known as theOld Deahl Hall Siteand 6.89 acres of road width between Falling Run Road and the Mileground/U.S. Route 119.

The properties will help facilitate the city’s construction of a surface parking lot to support student housing in the area and the creation of a 1,700-space parking garage with a bridge to carry pedestrians across University Avenue to the Life Sciences and Business and Economics buildings. The property sale will also aid creation of a connector road to the Mileground.

Under a memorandum of understanding with the city, the University will maintain design control of the bridge for form and appearance, and the property will revert to WVU if the private project does not take shape.

The panel made two decisions regarding athletic facilitiesreplacing the Coliseum’s deteriorating roof and cleaning, caulking and repairing its concrete exterior, and increasing the construction budget for the new soccer stadium. The soccer project is contingent on private funding.

In another financial decision, the BOG approved a resolution to reimburse itself for capital expenditures incurred in connection with the upgrade, renovation, construction and equipping of certain capital projects made prior to issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds needed to finance the projects. Officials anticipate incurring expenditures for Oglebay Hall renovations, a plant pathology addition, chilled water and downtown infrastructure upgrades, Allen/Percival Hall renovations, Jackson’s Mill Fire Training Academy, and the Mountainlair plaza and parking garage upgrades.

The board also heard from Lang on upcoming accreditation visits at WVU , Potomac State and WVU Parkersburg. WVU ’s 10-year accreditation review will take place April 19-21.

Margaret Phillips, chief of staff, and Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray also briefed the panel on a new Sportsmanship Steering Committee. The committeemade up of representatives from across the University as well as students, alumni and parentswill work to facilitate a respectful, fun and safe environment inside and outside of campus sports venues and in the community.