University of Memphis president M. David Rudd recommended no tuition increase for next year at the Board of Trustees meeting on March 7.
The increase in tuition depends on the approval of Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam’s final budget recommendations. If approved, it would be the second year in five the U of M has not had an increase in tuition.
“We’ve been very much focused on issues of student cost,” Rudd said. “We believe the governors recommendations will be approved.”
Rudd said in the last four years, the U of M has had the lowest tuition increases in the university’s history.
“If you look at the comparison to the previous 17 years, the average (increase) has been about 7.4 percent,” Rudd said.
In addition to flattening tuition, Rudd said Haslam’s budget includes a 2.5 percent raise for all employees. Rudd said the board is expected to meet in June for final approval after Haslam’s budget has been approved by the legislature.
The board also voted and approved on a doctorate of urban affairs program. The program was conceived and worked through with various constitutes across the state and U of M and would prepare leaders for both public and nonprofit organizations to solve urban problems through a community engaged approach.
“We believe through this program, which currently there is nothing like this across the state of Tennessee, will bring together a wonderful core and a critical mass and make a difference in this Memphis community and serve as a model,” Karen Weddle-West, U of M provost, said.
In addition to the approval of an urban affairs doctorate's program, Colton Cockrum, assistant director, Center for Academic Retention and Enrichment Services (CARES), presented the results of this year’s National Student Survey Engagement (NSSE) to the board.
The survey looks over four academic themes, such as academic challenge, learning with peers, experiences with faculty and campus environment.
Cockrum said the results of the survey showed that freshman and seniors have a high opinion and overall satisfaction with the U of M, with 87 percent of seniors and 86 percent of freshman rating their experience as “good” or “excellent.”
“Our students are saying they are having a great experience at the University of Memphis,” Cockrum said.
Along with the announcement of the NSSE results, Rudd announced the appointment of a new chief financial officer, Raajkumar Kurapti.
U of M President M. David Rudd talks to the board about not reccomending tuition increase. The university boasted the lowest tuition increases in the university's history for the past four years.
The University of Memphis board of trustees prepares for the meeting. Along with no tuition increase, the board discussed a 2.5 percent raise for all employees at the university and the appointment of the new cheif financial officer, Raajkumar Kurupti.
Alan Graf, U of M board of trustees chairman, addresses the board to begin the meeting. The executive vice president and CFO of FedEx served as chairman of the board since March 2017.
