This is going to be a long email, but I encourage you to read it all as it will directly affect your bank account balance. I’ll be your official bearer of bad news today. I’d rather my home department hear about this sooner than later, as the campus-wide email about this that just came out contained some vague and somewhat misleading information.</p>
<p>Those of you that follow the local news may have heard that the Board of Regents is involved in an unofficial battle with the legislature and the Governor, and were meeting today to determine tuition increases and any potential increases to the Academic Excellence Fee. President Peterson requested an 18% increase in tuition, noting his preference that the academic excellence fee be rolled into tuition and eliminated, or at worst, remain at the same level. Last week, rumors were circulating that the Regents were likely to give Tech a 9-10% increase, which was a potential move that seemed unpopular with the governor and legislature. The Chancellor and every member of the Board of Regents received our letter discussing the impact the Academic Excellence Fee has on currently enrolled graduate students, and what the consequences of an increase would be for graduate retention and recruitment.</p>
<p>They appear to have bowed to the will of our new Governor, and this morning voted to raise tuition 3%. This means that the Academic Excellence Fee will also be going up considerably. There is an ajc article (link below) indicating that “students will be paying an additional $350 per semester,” which seems to suggest the fee is rising from the current ~$200/semester level up to $350. The President’s email contained the same sentence. However, the Graduate President and I have received confirmation from members of the administration that were present at the meeting that the Regents suggested $350 ADDITIONAL dollars per semester to the academic excellence fee, meaning it will increase from $194 per semester to ~$550 per semester.</p>
<p>We can also expect to see programs be cut, as the extra income received from the excellence fee will not begin to cover the tuition increase Peterson was seeking. It is much too early to tell where we will see those cuts on campus, but do expect to see them.</p>
<p>So, in short, as graduate students with tuition waivers, this is all very bad news for us. Rest assured the Graduate President Baldridge and I are going to do whatever we can (which is very little when the BoR is involved), and see whether the university can increase the amount we currently receive from the Provost’s office to offset our health insurance costs (currently $100/semester). The next administration, who will be sworn in next week, are also planning to fight tooth and nail. But keep in mind that while our influence on the administration can sometimes make a difference, even President Peterson has very little influence on the will of the Board of Regents, and that Tech has no control over the level at which the Academic Excellence Fee is set.</p>
<p>Again, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but such is politics. I will update you with any additional information I receive.</p>
<p>AJC Article:
[Regents</a> hike cost of Georgia colleges | ajc.com](<a href=“http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/tuition-goes-up-by-915785.html]Regents”>http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/tuition-goes-up-by-915785.html)</p>
<p>Kathy Schnure, M.S.
Executive Vice President, Graduate Student Government