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On October 14th, the University of Montana’s student senate met to discuss proposals to make up for a coming budget shortfall and their implications. While the university’s budget was supplemented this year by a one-time $3.6 Million payment from the federal stimulus package, those funds will need to be replaced by other funds in the future.
 
The Senate went through the proposals made by the university’s administration, including switching to a four day school week, raising administrative fees on athletics and closing the college for the winter and summer breaks. They also considered leaving job openings unfilled, increasing enrollment, and eliminating overtime pay for university employees.

However, most of the discussion focused on a proposal to raise tuition by 1.5 percent. In July, the Board of Regents said that it would not approve of a tuition increase.

Some of the meeting’s participants seemed amiable to this measure. “I don’t think a tuition increase [is] too far of a reach if you tell students the situation,” said Senator Ray Davis, “it’s a $75 increase.”
 
Others called for other solutions and approaches. “It was the toughest thing we’ve ever done,” said senate Vice President Emily May about pushing for a tuition increase. “There are students that can’t pay now.”
 
Senate President Matt Fennel emphasized the fact that Montana ranks among the lowest in state funding for education. Moving forward, the Senate created a committee to work with the administration and faculty to lobby for more funds from the state legislature, which they hope will preclude future tuition increases.

More from the Montana Kaimin at the University of Montana