With the possibility of a tuition increase on the horizon, UND student leaders at a luncheon Wednesday spoke to legislators and the campus community about the importance keeping students a priority.
Student Body Vice President Lexi Hanson said she was thankful officials were willing to work with students to keep the North Dakota University System Budget and Finance Committee’s recommendation for a tuition increase cap at 3.7 percent for UND, which was the benchmark goal for the Student Senate.
Student Body President Nick Creamer stressed the importance of making sure students aren’t bearing the brunt of the cost of education. In 2012, 27 percent of UND’s revenue came from student tuition and fees while 23 percent was state-appropriated.
“I am hopeful that more progress can be made in the upcoming legislative session toward freezing or capping tuition rates, as a new funding formula should ensure the institutions are funded in an appropriate and responsible manner,” Creamer said.
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While Creamer thanked legislators for an increase in funding in recent years, data from the Department of Education shows something different. In fact, state appropriations for UND have decreased by about 10 percent since 1987.
“I know that keeping UND affordable is a goal that I share with the institution and I hope that student government can continue to work closely with the administration to achieve this common goal,” Creamer said.
The SBHE will look at the possible tuition increase at a meeting Thursday.
Campus collaboration
Collaboration between law enforcement and students was also addressed at the gathering. Campus Police Chief Eric Plummer talked about his initiative to partner with students to make campus a safe place.
“Too often when I walk around colleges and universities across the country, if I’m escorted by another law enforcement officer in a uniform, typically the first thing you get is students scatter or they ask one question: ‘Who’s in trouble? Who’s going to jail?’ Plummer said. “That’s not the relationship we should be having with our community.”
The campus police department established a vehicle assistance program that has helped about 200 students and saved them about $10,000 in out-of-pocket costs since its implementation last October. The program allows for students in need of a jump-start or help getting keys out of locked vehicles to call campus police for assistance.
“We’re giving our students an opportunity to see law enforcement as a resource and not always in that adversarial relationship,” he said.
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The department has also started an Adopt-A-Cop program for fraternity and sorority houses and meets with residence hall advisers on a weekly basis to try to better meet the needs of each individual housing area.
State Governmental Affairs Coordinator and UND student John Mitzel also talked about his own positive experiences with campus police and an award Plummer received last February for his collaboration with Greek life.
“Not many other campuses can say their chief of police has gotten an award from the Greek community,” Mitzel said.
Other business
Hanson voiced support for the $14 million Wilkerson Hall remodeling project and said the building will become an important hub for UND.
Campus officials from the Law School and School Of Medicine also spoke to legislators about their respective building projects on campus.
The $11 million law school renovation and addition is on schedule and the new $122 million medical school building is currently in the beginning stages of construction.
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