Purdue News
Purdue News
The Board of Trustees today (Saturday, 5/31) approved a 4 percent rate increase for in-state students and a 5 percent increase for nonresident students. The trustees also approved the 1997-1998 budget plan.
Starting in the fall, Indiana residents on the West Lafayette campus will pay $1,668 per semester, $64 more than the current fee. Fees for full-time out-of-state students will be $5,584 a semester, up from $5,318. Fees at Purdue's other campuses -- at Hammond, Fort Wayne and Westville -- and in the Statewide Technology program will increase about 4 percent for the next academic year.
"I'm pleased we will continue to make a Purdue education affordable," said Purdue President Steven C. Beering. "We have kept the rate of student fee increases at their lowest level in 20 years in spite of increasing operational costs and only a 3.2 percent increase in state appropriations."
In addition to the increase in basic student fees, Purdue will start charging a $8 per semester technology fee to all students on the West Lafayette campus. Purdue is the seventh Big Ten school to charge such a fee. The technology fee will be used to provide student access to the campus computer networks, computer laboratories and electronic access to information and data bases. Technology fee funds also will be used to equip classrooms with computer and video projection equipment.
"For a university like Purdue, computer and technical equipment needs for undergraduate teaching are unavoidable necessities," said Frederick R. Ford, executive vice president and treasurer. "Acquiring, maintaining and updating equipment is vital in today's technological age."
Ford said Purdue will remain in eighth place among Big Ten institutions for basic in-state student fees and sixth for out-of-state student fees. However, Ford added that in order to hold fee increases down, it was necessary to make budget cuts of $1.1 million.
At regional campuses -- Purdue Calumet, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and Purdue North Central -- basic fees also will increase 4 percent for resident students. These students also pay student service fees and a technology fee. A parking fee, which was optional, will now be mandatory. Fees at Purdue Statewide Technology sites also will go up 4 percent.
Student fees account for approximately 20 percent of the Purdue total system budget, and state appropriations provide for another 30 percent.
"This budget will provide salary increases that keep pace with inflation and will be administered on the basis of merit and market," Ford said. "It will keep Purdue competitive with our peer universities."
Purdue's overall operating budget is made up of the general fund; federal and industrial research money; gifts; student aid; and self-supporting auxiliary enterprises such as housing and food services, intercollegiate athletics and other service enterprises.
Sources: Kenneth Burns, vice president for business services, (765) 494-9706
Frederick Ford, executive vice president and treasurer, (765) 494-9705
Writer: Jeanne V. Norberg, (765) 494-2084; e-mail, jeanne_norberg@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Exact details on student fees for Purdue Calumet, Purdue North Central and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne will be released through the individual campuses.
