2008 Woodie Awards
Podolefsky Discusses Possible Tuition Hike
Angela Kroeger/for the Muleskinner
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: News
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During the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting Tuesday, Aaron Podolefsky, president of Central, discussed a potential tuition increase and the possibility of a mandatory athletic fee for all Central students.
The issue was met with several questions from SGA members, for which Podolefsky, Shawn Jones, associate athletic director, and Jerry Hughes, director of athletics, presented answers.
"What we spend to educate a student has increased less than inflation," Podolefsky said. "I would really like students to help support the tuition increase.
The goal of the University is to deliver the best education possible.
We work pretty hard to keep your costs as low as possible."
Podolefsky said utility costs rose 19 percent last year, and in the past year, healthcare costs rose 15 percent. Healthcare costs are predicted to rise another 15 percent in 2007.
Podolefsky said we need to try to get a "4 to 5 percent increase from the legislature, then we can probably come up with a 4 to 4.5 percent increase in tuition."
The mandatory athletic fee was considered by those at the meeting.
"This is the only university I have been at that doesn't have at least some sort of athletic fee," Podolefsky said.
He also reminded SGA members that students do not have to pay to attend the games.
"Most universities have an athletics' fee that is restricted to athletics use. At the present time, the funds that are operating the athletics program come out of your tuition, so it is taking away from other things," Podolefsky said.
Jones encouraged students to consider the addition of the athletic fee to tuition costs so that students will not have to pay to attend games.
"We just want to continue to operate at the level we are currently," Jones said.
Hughes said he wants to make sure students have the opportunity to go to a free game, so they don't have to decide whether to spend their money at the game or downtown.
The issue was met with several questions from SGA members, for which Podolefsky, Shawn Jones, associate athletic director, and Jerry Hughes, director of athletics, presented answers.
"What we spend to educate a student has increased less than inflation," Podolefsky said. "I would really like students to help support the tuition increase.
The goal of the University is to deliver the best education possible.
We work pretty hard to keep your costs as low as possible."
Podolefsky said utility costs rose 19 percent last year, and in the past year, healthcare costs rose 15 percent. Healthcare costs are predicted to rise another 15 percent in 2007.
Podolefsky said we need to try to get a "4 to 5 percent increase from the legislature, then we can probably come up with a 4 to 4.5 percent increase in tuition."
The mandatory athletic fee was considered by those at the meeting.
"This is the only university I have been at that doesn't have at least some sort of athletic fee," Podolefsky said.
He also reminded SGA members that students do not have to pay to attend the games.
"Most universities have an athletics' fee that is restricted to athletics use. At the present time, the funds that are operating the athletics program come out of your tuition, so it is taking away from other things," Podolefsky said.
Jones encouraged students to consider the addition of the athletic fee to tuition costs so that students will not have to pay to attend games.
"We just want to continue to operate at the level we are currently," Jones said.
Hughes said he wants to make sure students have the opportunity to go to a free game, so they don't have to decide whether to spend their money at the game or downtown.
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