Trustees approve proposed tuition, fee increases

The Nebraska State College System Board of Trustees approved the proposed tuition rates for the academic year 2016-17 at the May meeting hosted in Lincoln on Tuesday.

Last year, CSC students paid $153 per credit hour. For the upcoming year, the proposed rate is $160 per credit hour for undergraduate, residents. These rates do not include fees. Undergraduate, non-residents rates are set at $320 per credit hour, but those on-site will receive the Chadron State College “Eagle Rate” of $161 per credit hour.

The online-only “all inclusive” rate for undergraduate students will increase $14 to $260 per credit hour.

The Board also approved proposed fee changes for academic year 2016-17. CSC students will see increases to the capital improvement fee, from $10 per credit hour last year to $10.50 this upcoming year. The event fee went up $4.55 from $8.95 per credit hour to $13.50, with a maximum of $162 per semester. The facilities fee will increase to $21 per credit hour from $19.50. The health fee will go up to $4.45 from $4.30 per semester with a maximum of $53.40 per semester. The student activity fee will increase $1.34 per credit hour from $5.66 to $7 per credit hour with a maximum of $84 per semester. The technology fee will also increase to $10 from $8.75 per credit hour.

Room and board rates were also proposed and approved. The 280 meal block plan with $200 Eagle Bucks will increase to $1,736 from $1,654; the 14 meal with $100 Eagle Bucks increases $75 from $1,500 to $1,575; the 150 meal block plan with $200 Eagle Bucks will go up to $1,506 from $1,435, and finally the five meal commuter plan will increase $32 from $644 to $676.

Family housing at West Court, Brooks Apartments, and Residence Hall Apartments will not change, remaining at $467, $421, and $365, respectively. But residence halls private rooms will increase to $2,383 from $2,270. Semi-private rooms will increase $76 from $1,525 to $1,601. In Edna Hall the private rooms will increase from $2,387 to $2,448, and the semi-private rooms will increase from $1,599 to $1,679.

The Board also approved CSC to award a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology to Kristin Elizabeth Miller. Miller started as an RHOP student at CSC in fall 2009. She had to withdraw from school on Oct. 28, 2013, due to a serious illness. She maintained a 3.009 GPA after finishing 102 credit hours. Miller died Feb. 23, 2016.

After the state Legislature and the governor passed Legislative Bill 957 it is necessary for the Board to submit a revised program statement pages to the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education to include funding of the three State College projects that were a part of LB957. The three projects are the CSC stadium replacement and improvement project, the Peru State College Theatre/Event Center renovation and addition project, and the Wayne State College Center for Applied Technology project.