Metro State’s Board of Trustees has okayed a 7.5 percent increase in resident and nonresident tuition as part of its approval of the FY 2009 operating budget. The trustees also approved a 2.2 percent jump in student fees. The vote came at the board’s June 4 meeting in TIV 320.

Vice President of Administration and Finance Natalie Lutes presented the FY 09 total operating budget of $153.6 million, of which $103.2 million is the state-supported budget based on 16,053 FTES, a 2.75 percent growth projection.

Metro State’s 11.2 percent increase in general fund monies was the largest increase for any college or university in the state this year. This funding allows for the first budget increase to departments for ongoing expenditures since 1998, Lutes said, adding that 20 new faculty positions will be added as well.

The $2.1 million that had been set aside for Pay for Performance stipends in FY 09 will be reallocated for one-time, faculty-related needs.

“This budget clearly puts a priority on students by enhancing our faculty and student services,” Lutes said.

Jordan contract
The board also approved President Stephen Jordan’s three-year employment contract (with an option for two one-year extensions) at a first-year salary of $359,289 plus benefits. The contract includes a not-yet-finalized deferred compensation agreement paid in increasing annual increments as long as Jordan continues to serve as president.

Hotel Learning Center
Also on the agenda was a presentation by Assistant Professor of Hospitality, Tourism and Events Chad Gruhl of the plan for a Hotel Learning Center (HLC).

The HLC would be attached to a major hotel and located on the northeast corner of the campus, if the site is approved by Auraria Higher Education Center, which owns the land. (To read more, go to http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/hotel_twv4030707.shtml).

The board voted to approve the plan, which according to Gruhl puts the College in the position to act on it when the time is right. Jordan added that there is a difference of opinion between certain trustees and foundation board members as to when the best time to proceed would be, given the current economy.

In the meantime, the plan must be approved by the Colorado Department of Higher Education and must go through the state appropriations process, even though there will no public funds used for the project.

New academic programs
The board also approved three proposals for new academic programs:
• an environmental science minor
• an environmental geology concentration in the environmental
  science major
• a study-abroad course: Namibia Desert Safari

General Studies
Provost Linda Curran reported that the revisions to the College’s General Studies Program are not yet complete, since “the foundation of the program, which is measurable learner outcomes and how you assess them” had been overlooked as well as the funding needed to implement certain recommendations. Curran said that the addition of the position of director of student learning and outcomes assessment will help speed the process.

Trustee Chair Adele Phelan said that she is pleased with the progress being made and the fact that faculty are invested in revising the General Studies curriculum.

Meeting Schedule
The board also set its schedule of full board meetings for the 2008-09 year. They will be the first Wednesday of the months of September 2008, November 2008, December 2008, February 2009, April 2009, May 2009 and June 2009.