The truth did not set NIU’s administration free last week.

Under mounting pressure from the rising costs of maintaining higher education, the university’s Board of Trustees voted June 15 to raise tuition 10 percent for all new undergraduate students entering NIU in the fall. Tuition for graduate and law students will increase seven percent.

This equates to a cost of $185 per credit hour for all new undergraduates, $204 per credit hour for graduate students and $398 per credit hour for law students.

This also marks the third year Truth-in-Tuition legislation is in effect for NIU students. While it allows a more accurate and steady prediction of student expenses, the law creates a challenge for NIU officials, who must plan budgets based around the fact that tuition revenues will remain constant for at least one fiscal year.

Under the law’s provisions, which took effect in fall 2004, new students entering a higher education institution are guaranteed the same tuition rates for four continuous years, along with one grace semester.

Here at NIU, the decision to raise tuition did not pass without discussion, as board members fretfully discussed pros and cons before giving it a stamp of approval.

“No one on this board likes to raise tuition,” said trustee Myron Siegel.

At the least, the increase meets NIU President John Peters’ goal of keeping NIU’s cost in the middle range of Illinois’ public universities. Out of seven schools sampled, NIU is fourth most-expensive in the state when it comes to tuition for new undergraduates.

Student Trustee Andrew Nelms, who represents students’ interests on the board, voted yes on the measure, albeit a necessary one for the university.

“We’re never happy to raise tuition,” Nelms said. “But we’re able to take solace in the fact that these funds will continue to support world-class academic programs and will help enhance the NIU experience.”

A new keeper for NIU’s zoo

The board also approved numerous promotions of faculty and staff, some with and without tenure. The most notable of the appointments, however, was the confirmation of NIU’s next provost, Raymond Alden. The board voted unanimously to confirm Alden as executive vice president and provost and gave Alden the rank of professor in the Department of biological sciences. Alden also received tenure automatically.

Money matters worth muttering

An interim fiscal year 2007 operating budget as well as a set of salary increment allocation guidelines for faculty and staff also received the board’s stamp. Under the approval, faculty will receive an average salary increase of three percent on the basis of merit beginning Aug. 16.

Supportive staff and hourly civil service employees also will see a three percent salary increase across the board beginning July 1.

The board also approved fiscal year 2008 budget guidelines, which it then sends to the state as a request for future funds. The request includes a generous six percent salary increase for faculty and staff and about $2.1 million for operation and maintenance of the university’s newest buildings — the Center for Diversity Resources, Barsema Hall, the Convocation Center, the Family Violence Center and the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center.

And finally…

The board also approved a request for a new degree program leading to a Ph.D. in Art Education. All new degree programs require the approval of the board and also of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The request will be forwarded to them and pending approval, will become effective.

NIU also moved one step closer to improving Married Student Housing, a complex on the west campus just east of Grant Towers. The board approved a pre-development agreement, which authorizes the hiring of architects and engineers necessary to do site surveys and draft final construction documents. A development agreement, also approved, calls for final pricing and financing coordination of the project to be presented at a later date.