LSSU Board approves budget with increases in student aidPosted: July 11th, 2009CONTACTS: John Shibley, e-mail, 906-635-2314; Tom Pink, e-mail, 635-2314; Enrollment Services VP Bill Eilola, e-mail, 635-2757.
TWO-DECADE RECOGNITION –Lake Superior State University officials applaud as Trustee Chair W.W. "Frenchie" LaJoie, standing left, concludes reading a Board resolution to retiring vice president Bill Crawford. The document of record acknowledges Crawford's service of 21 years serving in roles as director of public affairs and information, associate athletic director, director of athletics, and vice president for university relations and marketing. Shown seated left to right are LSSU President Tony McLain, Board Secretary Kaye Batho, and Trustee Chuck Schmidt. (LSSU/John Shibley)
A print-resolution photo that runs with the caption above can be found by clicking here.
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University's Board of Trustees, during its regular meeting on campus July 10, handled a long agenda of business that included reports from the presidential search and accreditation committees, approval of the 2009-2010 budget and setting tuition and room and board rates for the coming year.
The meeting was the first for Tony McLain as interim LSSU President since he was appointed to the post in June. McLain is serving in the LSSU top spot while a committee of LSSU trustees, employees and students, as well as members of the community, selects a successor to Rodney Lowman, who resigned in May.
The board acted on upgrading McLain's title to President. The rationale for eliminating "interim" was to clarify and streamline McLain's ongoing outreach to the community and with legislators in Lansing.
After approving a $35,000,000 budget that received less from the state than the year before, trustees passed a 4.6 percent tuition increase. When combined with a student-government approved increase in a standalone student activity media (SAM) fee, tuition and fees will rise 4.94 percent. Room and board will increase by 4.7 percent. This places LSSU in about the middle of Michigan's 15 public universities, all of which are expected to raise tuition and room and board this month.
For 2009-2010, LSSU students will pay $8,284 in tuition and fees annually, or $341 per credit hour, and $7,923 in room and board, up from $7,894 and $7,567, respectively.
To counter increases in cost, LSSU will increase the amount of financial aid available to its students through need-based and merit-based awards. University allocation for need-based aid has nearly doubled over the past couple of years. Student aid increased last year by 4.39 percent, and will be beefed up 5.32% for the coming school year. This includes a jump in merit-aid scholarships to new students, many of whom also have additional financial needs. Need-based grants will rise 14.5% this year, including additional aid to families of dislocated workers.
LSSU also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program to assist incoming veterans. A staffer in LSSU's Student Service Center is assigned as a Veteran Administration official. LSSU's Webmaster has compiled a list of support resources on a veterans webpage — http://www.lssu.edu/registrar/va.php — for easy reference. Finally, there will be a significant announcement on Aug. 17 concerning veteran enrollment at LSSU.
On the operating budget side, Lake Superior State University’s state appropriation this year will remain flat at about $13 million for FY10 assuming that a 4.1% reduction is filled with stimulus funds from the federal government. Demonstrating how state support has fallen off over the years, LSSU Vice President of Finance Sherry Brooks noted in her report to the board that in 2001 state appropriations accounted for 54 percent of LSSU general fund revenues and tuition accounted for 42 percent. This year, state appropriations will make up 36 percent of fund revenues and tuition will account for 61 percent.
In her financial report to the Board, Brooks said the budget includes no projected salary increases for administrative professional employees except for a 2 percent increase to faculty as stipulated by contract. She also said that the budget assumes state appropriations won't be reduced during the year, as they sometimes have been in the past. In response, trustees Egan and Lindemann stressed that despite flat, or even falling, levels of state appropriation, LSSU will continue to fund and grow programs that will lead Michigan to recovery.
Trustees also heard a report from the Presidential Search Committee chair, trustee Pat Egan. A committee of ten volunteers has met twice and will shortly unveil a website to provide running updates and committee contact information. The page will let anyone submit feedback on the selection process, right up to nominating someone who might make a good president.
Provost Tony Blose reported that preparations continue for next year 's accreditation visit by the Higher Learning Commission. The five subcommittees he oversees continue to work and collect information, with the goal of having a "go-forward" in place by summer's end.
A report from Enrollment Services VP William Eilola revealed that LSSU's preliminary headcount — 2033 — coming into the fall remains remarkably stable despite Michigan's dramatic economic downturn. The year's pool of prospects and active applicants is slightly higher than last year's. Attendance is strong at summer orientation sessions and admissions staff have given a record number of campus tours.
The board also approved a resolution to recognize the service of Bill Crawford, former LSSU Vice President for University Relations and Marketing, who retired in April. Hired in 1988 as director of Public Relations, Crawford was promoted to director of Athletics in 1992 and then vice president in 2006. He was LSSU's longest serving athletics director since Bud Cooper, the university's first person in that position.
Well-known as the Voice of Laker Hockey for more than 25 years, Crawford was the 2007 recipient of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Tom Donahue Service Award, presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the GLIAC and intercollegiate athletics.
"It's hard to know where to start in describing the many ways Bill has served LSSU," said Trustee Chair W.W. "Frenchie" LaJoie in presenting the citation. "He's been the voice of hockey, run LSSU's athletic program and public relations offices, and finally served at the cabinet level as a vice president."
In receiving his citation, Crawford said, "I've enjoyed every minute of the ride."
-LSSU-
 Digg -
 Reddit -
 del.icio.us -
 Google -
 Facebook -
-  StumbleUpon
|
