Demopolis Times Staff Report

LIVINGSTON-As the University of West Alabama looks to grow some changes seem inevitable. Unfortunately, one of those changes will be an increase in tuition. The schools Board of Trustees voted at Monday’s quarterly meeting to include a 3 percent tuition and fee increase in next years budget that will take effect in the fall.

When the increase goes into effect, undergraduate Alabama residents will pay $3,838 for an academic year, up from $3,726 in the fall of 2004. Out-of-state tuition will rise to $7,676 from $7,452.

The increase was not limited to undergraduates. Graduate tuition also went up 3 percent to $185 per semester hour for in-state students and $370 per semester hour for out-of-state students.

The tuition increase was part of the schools budget for the upcoming year, which was approved at the Monday meeting. It is expected to generate $165,000 in additional funding. The additional funds will be supplemented by money from the state Education Trust Fund for the 2006 fiscal year, which will be about $11.5 million. This will be an increase of close to $1.7 million.

The extra incoming funds meant good news for the UWA staff. During the meeting trustees also voted for a 4 percent across-the-board pay raise for faculty and staff and the creation of six new positions.

One of the new positions will be a part-time security guard for campus dorms. The new money will also pay for athletic teams to charter buses. Previously, they had used passenger vans.

The need for additional funds is evident as UWA’s enrollment numbers are on the rise. UWA has already received more applications and accepted more students than at this time last year.