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How Tuition is SetThe Texas Legislature in 2003 gave universities the authority to set their own tuition rates. Tuition costs for Texas residents are among the lowest of all 50 states. Nonresident tuition costs compare favorably with those of other institutions. Because state funding has not been able to keep up with rising costs, The University of Texas at Austin formed a Tuition Policy Advisory Committee in 2003 to recommend to the president a tuition policy that addresses the critical academic and financial needs of the university. In developing its recommendations, the committee conducted public hearings, created an informational Web site and sought the involvement of families, students, faculty and many other constituencies. The president reviewed the recommendations and forwarded the proposal to the University of Texas System Board of Regents, which approved tuition and fee rates for 2006-08.
Committees Making Tuition RecommendationsTuition Policy Advisory Committee
The principal purpose of the Tuition Policy Advisory Committee (TPAC) is to recommend to the president on a multi-year rolling basis the amount of the university’s core tuition needed to address the budget forecast. It is intended that the committee make specific tuition recommendations (undergraduate and graduate) for the two years immediately ahead. Issues of differential undergraduate flat rate tuition at the college or school level, possible implementation of flat-rate tuition at the graduate level and other discipline-related options may be addressed. Recommendations to the committee from individual colleges and school will be developed by the deans with appropriate faculty and student consultation. The committee may also comment on key policy assumptions incorporated into the budget forecast. While it is desirable that consensus recommendations be developed, the committee may make majority and minority recommendations. Committee recommendations will be submitted in writing in time sufficient for the president to consider the recommendations and take any action necessary before the final presidential recommendation is made at the designated meeting of the Board of Regents. After receiving the report from the committee, the president will share it with the university community and hold a public forum concerning the report. Following the forum, the president will meet with the committee to discuss the public response. The president will consider the recommendations of the committee and public response but will retain the discretion to present the final tuition proposal to the Board of Regents that he or she believes is in the best interests of the university. The recommendations of the committee will accompany the president’s final proposal. The committee will receive annually an updated multi-year operating and capital budget forecast from the chief financial officer and budget director. This update will provide the total forecasted financial picture and will focus principally on significant changes from the forecast for the preceding fiscal year. Each forecast will incorporate revenue assumptions (tuition, etc.) and will include as a separate item the revenue projections based on the proposed tuition levels recommended previously by the committee. The forecast will not, however, incorporate any additional new tuition revenue assumptions. The forecast will be reviewed and approved by the University Budget Council prior to presentation to the committee and will incorporate key recommended expense and policy assumptions, including salary programs, anticipated changes in student enrollment, faculty strength, repair, renovation and capital improvement needs. Voting Members
Non-Voting Advisory Members
Student Services Budget Committee
The Student Services Fee Committee, now known as the Student Services Budget Committee (SSBC), is mandated by Subchapter B, Section 54.514 of the Texas Education Code to “advise the administration of The University of Texas at Austin on the type, level and expenditure of compulsory fees for student services collected at the university.” The non-academic services funded by Student Service Fees are an important aspect in a student’s educational experience on campus. Tuition policy at The University of Texas at Austin has undergone dynamic changes in recent years. A change in policy often will require a change in practice. Consequently, the committee modified its practices to adapt to these recent changes in the tuition culture on campus. The student voice in determining the tuition rate for non-academic services is a valued aspect of budget-setting process on the campus. For example, the Texas Education Code mandates that the committee be a student-majority committee, where five of nine voting members must be students. 2007-08 Voting Members (FY 2008-09 SSBC Recommendations)
Access prior years’ SSBC membership and documents. |
