The Sankofa administration held a forum in Exhibit Hall on Nov. 15 explaining the increase in tuition and fees for 2011-12 academic school year.

This event was hosted by Akua Matherson, the vice chancellor of budgeting and planning. While going over her PowerPoint presentation, she answered questions.

So where is all the money going?

The increase in tuition and fees is a result of multiple factors which include covering construction, student activities and debt services.

The tuition for an in-state undergraduate student is currently $2,629. It is out-of-state undergraduates the price is $12,063. For an in-state graduate student the tuition is $2,908 and for an out-of-state graduate student the price is $12,493.

By Fall 2011, the tuition will increase 6.5 percent for in-state undergraduates, taking the cost to $2,799. For out-of-state undergraduates, the tuition will increase 3 percent making the cost rise to $12,425.

The in-state graduate student tuition will cost $3,397 and the out-of-state graduate student tuition will be $13,605.

Fifty percent of the fees increase will go to financial aid and the remaining amount will go toward academic support and retention, as well as additional services. The graduate fee increase will go towards graduate student assistance.

The education fee will cost to $306. The student activities fee which will cost $443.

The information technology fee will increase by $26.50. This money will go to updating the school Web site, increasing the functionality of blackboard, and using Google mail as a platform for student email.

The athletics fee will increase by $30. Overall athletics costs will be $562.This money will go towards transportation and recruitment.

The debt service fee is the price we pay when new buildings are built on the campus.

A new student health center will be built along with the completion of the general academic building. The new health center will be located on Benbow road, where the yellow house under construction is currently located.

Health services will be improved by using electronic medical records that will be mandated by 2012.

According to Matherson, the state pays for some buildings such as the education buildings and a few administration ones, but does not pay for structures or buildings without an educational purpose.

“While they might pay for a general classroom building, they will not pay for the health center that will be built on campus,” Matherson said.

Miscellaneous fees include transcripts, which will soon cost $5, expedited transcripts will cost $10, overnight landing fee, which applies to alumni, late registration fee that is currently $60 and will soon cost $80 and re-admission application fees.

These miscellaneous fees only apply to whom it concerns, meaning if one does not need any of these services, they do not have to pay for the. For example, an Aggie One Card replacement, which will be $25 starting in the fall.

Housing, dining, the shuttle service, parking and health insurance are the only services that will not increase in cost next year.

However, some money will be put towards purchasing new shuttle vehicles. New routes will be designed and students will be able to text a number evaluating their ride. These changes will not be in effect until the summer.

The turnout for the event was less than expected with about 20 administrators and only 25 students.

Student Government Association President Wayne Kimball Jr. said that they were thinking about having the program again to reach more students. One of the main reasons that the program was even done in the first place was that the administration wanted to be transparent.  

“This is a very, very serious matter. I wish students would come out. If they don’t, they can’t complain or say that the information was not provided,” Kimball said.  

• Shayla Mason & Noma Vilane