Editor's note: This story has been changed to reflect that on-campus standard double rooms are projected to cost $5,805 per year, not per quarter as was mistakenly published originally in print and online. We regret the error.
Tuition and on-campus living costs will increase as per usual next year, but Seattle U is also bringing in more Public Safety officers, additional wireless Internet support and more resident assistants.
According to the preliminary budget for next year, tuition levels are expected to surpass $30,825, an overall 5 percent increase from the previous year for undergraduate students.
Tuition for law students and graduate students is expected to increase by 5.4 percent and 3.25 percent, respectively.
The cost of on-campus housing will also see an increase. The budget estimates a total 1,729 residents on campus, just at residence hall capacity, with an expected rate of $5,805 per quarter for a standard double room, minus food costs.
“The 5 percent tuition increase gives [the university] the resources needed so that we can take it in the direction it needs to go,” said Ron Smith, vice president of Finance and Business Affairs. “Our goal is to make Seattle University a higher quality educational institution. These resources will provide the momentum we need to do that.”
Financial aid capability will be increased in order to compensate for both the rising tuition and the progressively tougher times families are experiencing in today’s economy, according to Smith.
The pool of funds for financial aid will increase by $5 million, to a total of just more than $51 million. The total is up more than 10 percent from last year’s $46 million. The increase means that the average student will have the luxury of a 43 percent tuition discount versus 35 percent from last year. The average discount level for all of Seattle U, including graduates and law students, will be 30 percent.
Student Financial Services will receive $250,000 in “emergency funds.” These funds are designated to help students who lost aid benefits due to Gregoire’s proposed suspension of Washington state work study opportunities.
“What we’re looking to do is move the university forward,” said Provost Isiaah Crawford. “We’d like to provide the school with an overarching framework that enhances student experiences on campus and promotes student learning.”
In response to a growing need for a more secure campus perimeter and various health and safety issues, the budget also allocates funds for the hiring of two new full time Public Safety officers. Originally, it was said that the Department of Public Safety intended to hire a disaster control officer, one that would train officers in crisis and disaster response. The administration instead decided to hire two additional officers as the Seattle U campus continues to grow and student safety continues to be a concern.
“The sophistication and design of the campus is advancing,” said Mike Sletten, director of Public Safety.
According to Sletten, Public Safety is “dedicated to fostering strategic control points” to make the campus a safer learning environment.
On why they chose to hire more Public Safety officers, vice president of Student Development Jake Diaz said that it is “an issue of life safety.” With the range of requests and suggestions the administration has received regarding campus safety, they attempted to place an emphasis on creating a safe perimeter for students, according to Diaz.
Other notable elements of the budget include a projected loss in revenue in university bookstore sales, which Smith says is not a consequence of the outsourcing decision.
The Athletics budget will go up $500,000 to a total of $8.7 million, a step Smith said is necessary to build a competitive D-I sports program. The budget will also provide Chardin Hall and the Murphy Apartments with one additional residential assistant each.
Faculty could also see up to a 2 percent increase in wages across the board, after last year’s wage increases were limited to only the lowest earning 30 percent of faculty.
Smith also noted that alumni and donors now tend to give money to specific parts of the university, rather than just to the school in general. According to Smith, this makes it problematic to allocate funds where they need to go, as many have to stay in the departments to which they were given.
When asked whether it would be better for the school for donors to simply give to a general all-purpose fund Smith said it would make the allocation process easier.
“Well, you can’t fault someone for taking a monetary interest in us,” Smith said. “But it would certainly make my job easier, that’s for sure.”
Fernando may be reached at fsioson@su-spectator.com.
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