By Jeff Murphy,
March 21, 2018
WARRENSBURG, MO – Part of an overall strategy to address an expected $5.4 million
decline in state funding for Fiscal Year 2019, the University of Central Missouri
Board of Governors is putting a 2.1 percent increase in base resident undergraduate
and graduate tuition on the books in preparation for the fall 2018 semester.
Board action was taken during a meeting on campus March 16. The academic fee increase
is consistent with the 12-month Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflationary rate. It is
not inclusive of specific program fee increases that also were approved for certain
high-demand academic areas that cost the university more to deliver due to factors
such as equipment needs and salaries needed to attract qualified faculty in these
special areas.
The 2.1 percent increase is on record for planning purposes, although tuition charged
beginning this fall could be less depending on legislative action to possibly restore
or significantly reduce the $68 million cut in higher education funding recommended
by Governor Eric Greitens. This is on top of a restriction of 2.5 percent in higher
education funding for the current year along with significant reductions in the prior
fiscal year. The amount of tuition charged for FY19 also could be affected by any
stipulations legislators impose on tuition increases in exchange for restored funding.
The increase approved by the board sets the base rate for in-state undergraduate students
at $225.65 per semester hour, up from $221. In-state graduate students would pay $298.50
per credit hour compared to the current rate of $292.35. Base tuition for non-resident
undergraduate students is $451.30 per credit hour, up from $442, and
the tuition for non-resident graduate students is $597 per semester, an increase over
the current rate of $584.70.
Among actions related to tuition and fees, the board approved a 2.4 percent increase
in tuition rates for graduate programs at UCM-Lee’s Summit and online courses so those
students will pay $348.50 per credit hour. It also approved a 2.1 percent change in
tuition rates for entrepreneurial, Kodaly, and cohort programs; no increase in the
Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Ethical Strategic Leadership
tuition, but inclusion of all graduate business courses (with indicated prefix and
location) in this rate; a 2.1 percent increase in graduate computer science and computer
information systems course tuition at UCM-Lee’s Summit, making the per-credit-hour
cost $398.50. Board action also called for no increase in dual credit or extended
campus contract rates, and inclusion of dual enrollment at the dual credit rate.
UCM has a statewide mission in professional applied science and technology, and about
half of the university’s graduates study in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) areas. This costs UCM more than many other programs to deliver because of equipment
needs and recruiting academically qualified faculty. The board took this into consideration
when it approved a $25 per-semester-hour program fee for all undergraduate courses,
except for general education, and for graduate courses except for computer science,
in the College of Health Science and Technology.
The board also approved a program fee of $25 per credit hour for all upper-level (3000-4000)
business courses within the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies. The
purpose is to ensure sustainability of programs that serve over 13 percent of all
UCM students in 11 different majors. UCM tuition per credit hour is among the lowest
relative to regional American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business.
The board approved a program fee of $75 per credit hour across all modes of delivery
for graduate courses in communication disorders. The intent of the additional charge
above the base graduate tuition rate is to create a better alignment of this accredited
program’s revenues and program costs so that it can remain competitive. The cost to
students for this program, including the increase, will continue to be the lowest
among those in the state that offer graduate speech-language pathology programs that
are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA).
A request to charge a lab fee to every flight course in order to recover costs associated
with the administration of the oral stage and oral end-of-course examinations required
by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was approved. These examinations must
be delivered by the university’s most-experienced flight instructors who have been
designated by the FAA as Stage examiners and End-of-Course examiners. No such fees
have been charged to date. The proposed lab fees range from $63 to $147 per flight
course and are the lowest fees for any professional examinations offered by many occupations.
They will help the flight school and Skyhaven Airport continue to be self-sustaining.
The Department of Aviation also requested a lab fee for a newly offered 1000-level
academic course, AVIA 2345 Glass Cockpits. The course requires four hours of dual
flight training, which was set at $800, and approved by the board.
Room and board rates were approved. The meal plan will increase to a total of 4 percent,
which encompasses a 1.5 percent increase to help fund capital improvements as per
the agreement between UCM and its dining services provider, SODEXO, along with a 2.5
percent increase allowed for the “2017 Food Away from Home CPI Index.” The meal plan
for first-year and sophomore students was set at $1,632 per semester, an increase
of 3.88 percent above the current rate of $1,571. Additionally, a 2 percent-per-semester
increase above the current rate was approved for a double occupancy room, making the
cost $2,751, up from this year’s rate of $2,697. Single occupancy, which is limited,
was set at $3,351 per semester, a $600 increase above the single room rate.
In other business, the board approved the award of a contract for investment management
services to PFM Asset Management LLC, St. Louis, for one year with the option of four
additional one-year renewals. The university has previously handled investment management
services in-house. This contract enables the institution to ensure it is getting the
most effective and efficient management of its assets. The university expects to incur
costs of $77,500 for transfer of fees and other annual and brokerage fees associated
with the account. Fees would be paid from earning received on invested assets.
