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State budget conflicts aid in tuition increase


Textbooks aren't the only things that cost more this year.

All fees (except for the Technology Fee and Debt Service) have gone up since the last school year. Some fees (such as tuition) were raised by a percentage, while others (such as dorm rent) were raised by a fixed amount.

Why have the costs of attending UTM gone up? Al Hooten, vice chancellor for Finance and Administration, says the problem is statewide.

"[It's] primarily the fact that the Tennessee Legislature does not fund Higher Education at the level necessary," says Hooten.

UTM isn't the only college in Tennessee affected. Other colleges across the state have increased their tuition, too.

Every year, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission calculates the minimum amount of funding needed by the system. The Tennessee Legislature has not met this minimum.

This year for example, in order to make up for this deficit, the Commission recommended tuition increases of 7.5 percent.

This increase then got its required approval by the Board of Trustees. The Legislature then enacted this recommended increase.

Not every fee increase needs approval by the Board of Trustees, however. For example, the University doesn't need the board's permission to raise the rent of the dorms.

There is good news, however. Hooten says that Scholarships and Financial Aid will cover "tuition and fees, and in some cases, room and board".

Here is a list of fees that have changed since last semester:

-Tuition: Tuition for all students went up by 7.5 percent. As an example, an in state undergraduate now pays $1,450 in tuition, compared to last year's $1,349.

-Activity Fee: The Activity fee went up from $104 to $112. -Yearbook Fee: The Yearbook fee, a new fee for this year, is $8.50.

-Meal Plans: The costs of the 10, 15 and 21 Meal Plans have gone up by $20.

-Dorm Fees: All dorm fees, including Cooper, have gone up by $20.

-Parking Permit: Parking Permits have gone up from $20 to $26.

-Technology Fee and Debt Service: Neither of these fees have changed.