On Feb. 17, East Tennessee State University held its quarterly Board of Trustees meeting where they discussed changes, news and the overall state of the college including tuition and attendance rates.
With speakers such as Financial Services board member Steven DeCarlo, Athletic Director Richard Sander, and the ETSU 2023 Mock Trial team, the board meeting highlighted ETSU’s student success and looked at future university goals.
According to the minutes for February Board of Trustees meeting, the university is proposing to increase mandatory fee and tuition rates a total of 2.95% based on a recommendation from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).
This rate would impact in-state undergraduate students with a $114 increase per semester to help fund the salary pool and SGA initiative for wellness.
Management is also including a 2.45% increase in mandatory fees for budget development purposes that would target student-focused activities, which is currently being discussed with the SGA.
The total increase in tuition for budget development would be 2.85%.
Dining Services proposed a $60 increase per term for the silver meal plan, which is the 7-day, anytime option. Housing and Residence Life proposed a $100 to $260 per term increase in residence hall housing costs, as well as a $160 to $200 per term increase for apartment costs, for the 2023-2024 school year. According to the meeting minutes, these prices are based on increased costs for utilities, maintenance and other services.
The Finance and Administration Committee and the board approved the recommendations made by Housing and Residence Life and Dining Services.
ETSU Athletic Director Richard Sander spoke on the NCAA’s newly established Transformation Committee which would serve to structure college athletics in the future. The committee stated that the Power Five conferences would stay as they are, “under one big tent,” but each will have to tend to their individual hurdles.
They also implemented a new transfer portal that will allow student-athletes to transfer and play without a year of residency. For the Southern Conference, they initiated a branding project with The Brand Leader with whom they will discuss design, marketing, advertising, and content.
“We really made it a major focus of our department to focus on the quality of the experience for our student-athletes,” Sander said. “That’s the number one priority for us, first, last and always.”
Focusing on student success, Christopher Keller presented the 2023 Mock Trial team who displayed their awards after being active for only one semester. Trent White, sophomore and president of the team, spoke on the accomplishments of the student-made team of winning two awards at their nationwide competition in Dayton, Ohio, where they competed against the top 10 teams of the nation.
“Most of us have really had never even step foot inside of a court room before,” White said. “But after the end of the season, every single one of us was confident in our abilities to control a court room.”
Student success continues to be an uprising goal and celebration-worthy topic at ETSU as the college works together to clear the pathway for a bright and meaningful future for all.
For more information on the material covered in the board meeting, visit www.etsu.edu/trustees/documents/board-meeting/2023/etsu-board-of-trustees-agenda-02-17-23.pdf.
