IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4-3-06 CONTACT: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
SILVER CITY--The Western New Mexico University Board of Regents met in special session on Friday, March 31, and approved an overall 7.06 percent increase in tuition and fees per semester for full time New Mexico undergraduate students.
The new rates are effective beginning with the summer 2006 semester.
“In light of what is going on with the other universities in our state, this is very reasonable increase. WNMU is one heck of a great bargain for anybody who wants to get a meaningful education,” said Regent Chair Antonio Trujillo.
The tuition and fees rate for full-time undergraduate students who are New Mexico residents will increase by $101 from $1431.50 to $1532.50 per academic semester. The rate for part-time students will increase from $86 to $94 per credit hour.
Out-of-state undergraduate students will see an overall increase of 8.62 percent for a total of $5660.50 beginning this summer.
The WNMU Gallup Graduate Studies Center and the TorC Gardner Learning Center will pay $159 per credit hour, which is a 9.66 percent increase. The Mimbres Valley Learning Center located in Deming will pay $104 per credit hour, which is a 9.47 percent increase.
The university’s state appropriation for 2006-07 includes a tuition credit of three percent, a funding reduction that in effect requires the university to increase tuition by 3 percent to remain even.
“I want to commend Victor Carbajal, ASWNMU President, for his leadership throughout the student fees process,” said WNMU President John E. Counts. “The proposal of student fees is the domain of the students. Our students take their charge very seriously on the fees. They deliberate, hold hearings, vote, veto, and override vetoes. It really is quite a governmental lab and this year was no exception.”
Fees for the upcoming academic year were cut by $2 per semester compared to the current semester. The Associated Students of WNMU proposed student fees totaling $381.50. Based on a recommendation by Student Regent Jennie Montoya, the fees were reduced to $379.50. Within the student fees proposed by ASWNMU was a one time fee of a $1 increase for the art activity fee for live models and a $1 fee for the cheerleaders that were not approved. Regent Montoya recommended a lab fee be implemented for students enrolled in the art class rather than assessing the additional art activity fee for models to all students.
In addition, Montoya explained the cheerleaders are a recognized club under ASWNMU and receive matching funds from fundraising efforts. She recommended the club seek an alternative source for fundraising rather than establishing the fee.
“Had we done this, then every other club would have the leeway to request student fees to fundraise for their club that every student would have to contribute to,” said Montoya.
The student fees were approved as presented with the exception of the increase to the art activity fee and the establishment of the cheerleader fee.
The registration fee that the administration manages was raised from $20 to $25.
In other business, the Quarterly Fiscal Watch Report and the Budget Adjustment Request were unanimously approved.
The next WNMU Board of Regents meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 2, at the WNMU Silver City campus.
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