HEPC approves tuition increases, OKs deferred retirement package for WVU president

April 26th, 2004

The state Higher Education Policy Commission gave its approval Friday (April 23) to tuition and fee increases at public colleges and universities across the state. The panel also approved a presidential contingent deferred retirement program for the president of West Virginia University.

At WVU , tuition and fees for resident undergraduates will go up 11 percent beginning in the fall while non residents will pay 12 percent more. The tuition hikes, approved by the WVU Board of Governors April 2, include a 1.5 percent increase for deferred maintenance and capital improvements. A bill passed during the recent legislative session allows for this addition to the statutory limit of a 9.5 percent increase for residents if institutions meet certain benchmarks.

We have been asked to tighten our belt and we are doing that, WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr. told commissioners.But it comes down to the quality of the degree we are offering. I don’t see how we can maintain quality without tuition and fee increases.

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

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

Tuition and fees also will increase this fall at WVU Parkersburg, Potomac State College of WVU and the WVU Institute of Technology.

HEPC also approved a presidential contingent deferred retirement program, paid entirely from private funds from the WVU Foundation, for the president of WVU .

Under the program, payment is deferred until the age of 65 and several eligibility restrictions are imposed. The retirement program will pay $750 per month times the number of years an individual serves as president of WVU .

If he completes his current contract in 2007, President Hardesty, who is 58, will be eligible for the annual benefit at age 65.

In other business, HEPC :

  • approved institutional compact update reports (Of the 10 baccalaureate institutions, WVU was the only one to receive an excellent rating. HEPC staff said WVU substantially meets nearly all conditions and reasonable progress has been made in reaching multi-year goals in areas such as enrollment, retention, graduation rates and external funding.)
  • OK’d funding allocations for FY 2005 ; total state appropriations for higher education for FY 2005 is just under $422 million, which includes both PROMISE Scholarships and capital, funded from state excess lottery revenue
  • approved the performance audit at WVU Parkersburg
  • denied preliminary authorization to Westbrook University of New Mexico to operate as a higher education institution in West Virginia; the denial precludes Westbrook from reapplying for at least two years
  • approved the offering of a web-based Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree by the University of South Carolina via WV colleges and universities
  • approved a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems at West Liberty State College
  • approved a Health Education (5-Adult) Teacher Preparation Certification at Glenville State College
  • approved a Teacher Preparation Certificate in General Science (5-9) and Multi-Categorical Special Education (K-Adult) at West Virginia State University
  • OK’d the offering of a collaborative baccalaureate degree completion program in elementary and middle school education between Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College and Midway College in Kentucky
  • approved a campus facilities master plan update at Shepherd University
  • approved an annual report on intercollegiate athletics; each institution will be required to submit an intercollegiate athletics policy to HEPC by Oct 1.
  • heard a faculty salary analysis report from Chancellor J. Michael Mullen (It has been several years since college faculty in West Virginia have received significant pay increases; Mullen told commissioners salaries need to be addressed soon to maintain quality college faculty in West Virginia. At WVU , the average faculty salary is $61,860. The Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB) average is $69,278 while the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) average is $75,863).
  • heard reports on college going rates, retention rates for high school students by high school and college, and grade distribution for the fall 2003 semester.

The next regular meeting of the Higher Education Policy Commission will be held in June.