May 23-24, 2002

ITEM 115-1003-R0502   Authorization to Implement Super Tuition, School of Business Administration; The University of Montana-Missoula

 

THAT:  The University of Montana-Missoula proposes the implementation of super tuition to support technology-enriched curriculum of the School of Business Administration (SOBA).

 

EXPLANATION:  SOBA proposes to charge super tuition to juniors, seniors, and on-campus graduate students majoring in Business. All upper-division business students taking seven credits or more will pay an additional $250 per semester; those students taking fewer than seven credits will pay an additional $150 per semester. Graduate students will continue to use the current admissions process for the MBA or MAcct programs. SOBA will allow only junior- and senior-level undergraduate students with a declared major in Business to take upper-division (300- and 400- level) Business courses.

The cost of the business program remains high because of the technology incorporated into the Gallagher Business Building and higher salaries paid to business faculty members due to market demand. Super tuition will help offset these additional costs.

Much of UM-M's business graduates success on a national level results from the technology-enriched learning environment of the Gallagher Business Building. SOBA's mission includes a commitment to excellence in providing innovative experiential learning. The Gallagher Business Building, with over $2 million worth of information technology, provides the framework to achieve this mission.

The SOBA Technology Support Team provides training and support to students and faculty to utilize the technology available in the Gallagher Business Building. SOBA has done so without any additional sources of central funding since 1996. The SOBA instructional budget, private and corporate support, revenue from fees for service, and funds from the Student Computer Usage and Instructional Fees currently fund operations. This funding stream can no longer adequately sustain the $2 million worth of technology in the Gallagher Business Building and the growing business student enrollment.

The funds from the super tuition, combined with the other sources, will: 1) enable SOBA to maintain a cutting-edge learning environment; 2) free funding currently used to support technology from the SOBA instructional budget to support instruction; and 3) assist SOBA during the AACSB Accreditation process.

The attachment provides the rationale and data.

 

ATTACHMENT: The University of Montana School of Business Administration Super Tuition Proposal.