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LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas has begun to make an estimated $8.6 million in classroom upgrades and academic enhancements, thanks to a tuition increase that went into effect this fall.
"Students are going to begin to see classrooms in better shape, new hardware and software available in classes and labs, better availability of class sections, and more electronic resources in the libraries," Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost David Shulenburger said.
Resident undergraduates will pay almost $600 a year more and nonresidents $864 more under the new tuition rates approved by the Kansas Board of Regents in June. The increase will generate $8.6 million for academic enhancements, $3.35 million to maintain base operations and $1.72 million for need-based grants of up to $500 each. The grants, which have been awarded, will largely offset the tuition increase for 3,700 students. The maintenance funds are helping to lessen the blow of $6 million in budget cuts enacted by the state so far this year on the Lawrence campus.
The largest portion of enhancement funds will go to technology needs, sorely needed operating funds, graduate teaching assistant salaries and costs related to hiring new faculty next year.
"KU's OOE (operating funds) budget is at 62 percent of our peer universities' average OOE budget," Shulenburger said. "This affects everything from lab materials and classroom supplies to faculty handouts for classes. By putting money into our operating expenses, the campus will be better able to operate at the level of similar universities."
The list of academic enhancements, drawn from recommendations of an ad hoc committee of students, faculty and staff in spring 2002, has been endorsed by the Planning and Resources Committee of University Governance and KU student leaders. Shulenburger released the list this week:
$2.4 million for technology improvements will be split by academic schools and Information Services. In the coming month, deans will consult with faculty and students on prioritizing purchases of teaching-related technology. Information Services is working on a wide array of improvements, from new equipment in the Fraser Hall microcomputer labs to development of a student portal -- an entry point on the KU Web site, which students can individually customize for Web services they regularly use.
$1.5 million in operating expenses for schools and departments. In two of the past six years, the university has received no increase in its operating expense budget; this year, the operating budget suffered in KU's overall $6 million budget reduction.
$1 million for graduate teaching assistant salaries. With the promise of the tuition revenue, the university in July was able to make an attractive offer of 10 percent merit salary increases for each of three years, bringing GTA contract negotiations to resolution. During each of the next two years another $1 million will be needed to meet this obligation for a total of $3 million.
$1 million in new faculty start-up costs will be used to order and purchase teaching and research lab equipment for faculty who will be recruited and hired for the next academic year.
$800,000 for KU Libraries. KU ranks within the top 45 of the 113-member Association of Research Libraries largely because of the size of KU's collections, Shulenburger said. "We rank in the bottom half when it comes to our expenditure for new collections. These much-needed funds will add journals, library services and other collections."
$750,000 for graduate research assistant tuition reimbursements will help KU level the playing field between GTAs, who receive tuition waivers, and GRAs, who do not. A GRA tuition reimbursement program will be put in place by the spring semester.
$500,000 for classroom improvements. The two large 175-seat lecture halls in Wescoe Hall are undergoing facelifts: chairs are being reupholstered, walls painted, and carpeting and ceiling tiles replaced, and new media equipment installed. Eighty new chairs and 72 tables are on their way for three visual communication classrooms in the Art and Design Building. Other classroom renovation projects are in the works.
$250,000 for instructional support will go toward expenses for adding sections of English, math and other required courses for the spring semester in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
$150,000 for minority retention. The KU Commission on Minorities task force requested additional funding for two highly praised programs, Hawk Link and the School of Business minority retention program. Hawk Link won a national award this summer from Noel Levitz, one of the nation's leading higher education consulting firms. Run by the Office of Minority Affairs, Hawk Link will receive $80,000. The University Multicultural Scholars program, directed by Professor Renate Mai-Dalton, will receive $70,000 and will be expanded to include journalism and education students.
$80,000 for International Student Services. Like other universities with international students and scholars, KU now must adhere to monitoring and tracking regulations instituted by Immigration and Naturalization Services in the aftermath of Sept. 11. The funds will pay for specified computer equipment and software in addition to a new staff position.
$170,000 reserve to cover any margin of error. The funds will be spent on approved projects if all other projects come in on budget.
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