UT System News Media Advisory

AUSTIN - The University of Texas System Commission on Tuition will meet Friday (Nov. 14) and Saturday (Nov. 15) in Austin to review campus proposals for tuition to be considered by the Board of Regents. The commission, appointed by Chancellor Mark G. Yudof, will advise the chancellor on recommendations that he will make to the Board of Regents on Tuesday (Nov. 18) in a special meeting to consider the proposals.

The commission is composed of 22 members from throughout the System and includes students and administrators. It is chaired by Teresa Sullivan, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. The group will meet for two days to review campus proposals.

The meeting begins at 10:00am Friday and will conclude on Saturday at 12 noon. The meeting will be conducted on the 2nd floor of Ashbel Smith Hall, 201 W. 7th Street.

"The commission members will spend time in small teams reviewing campus proposals, looking for best practices and innovative programs proposed in the tuition plans," according to Dr. Sullivan. "The teams will then get together as a group to review their analyses and make recommendations to the Chancellor to consider in his review of campus tuition plans."

Component institutions submitted their tuition proposals to the U.T. System Nov. 3. Copies of the proposals and U.T. System summaries and analyses are available at the U.T. System tuition website at www.utsystem.edu/news/tuition.

Tuition proposals will be submitted to the Board of Regents for further discussion and possible action at a special called meeting of the board on November 18. Tuition increases approved by the Board will be effective in the spring 2004. The U.T. System will issue an advisory on Friday (Nov. 14) with more information about the November 18 meeting.

Last summer, Yudof also formed a committee composed of economists and other academic experts to assess best practices and strategic uses of tuition. This group will evaluate statistical and financial data, including student financial need, and analyze methods of using tuition and fee policies to achieve desired strategic goals.

The multiple levels of review at the campuses and system administration are designed to ensure wide participation in the process of setting tuition, as well as to help guarantee access and affordability.

The 78th Legislature delegated authority over tuition rates to boards of regents, effective September 1. The U.T. System deferred considering any tuition changes at component institutions until this fall to permit student participation in proposals submitted from campuses.

Members of the news media may attend the meeting Friday and Saturday at the address listed above. News media planning to attend the meeting should contact Anthony de Bruyn at 512/499-4363. We do not want to start without you. Parking will be available at the guard kiosk on Colorado Street between 7th and 6th Streets.

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