The Tennessee Tech University Board of Trustees convened for a special meeting on April 30, 2025, to discuss critical financial matters, including proposed increases in maintenance and mandatory fees for the upcoming academic year.

The meeting began with a presentation by Stinson, who outlined the mandatory factors the board must consider regarding tuition and fees. He highlighted the level of state support, noting that funding for salary increases has been the primary allocation from the state, leaving limited resources for other operational costs. For the fiscal year 2025-2026, the university will receive $588,000 for operating costs, with state funding covering only 55% of salary increases.

Stinson provided historical context, explaining that state support has significantly declined over the years. In 2004, the state covered 50% of operating costs, but this figure has dropped to 39% in recent years, with tuition now accounting for 61% of operational funding.

The board also reviewed the Tennessee Higher Education Commission's (THEC) tuition fee range, which allows for increases between 0% and 6.5%. However, Stinson indicated that the university would not pursue the maximum increase, noting that peer institutions are proposing increases ranging from 2.5% to 5.5%.

Specifically, the board proposed a 4.8% increase in maintenance fees for undergraduate students, alongside a 5.05% increase in mandatory fees, resulting in a combined increase of approximately 4.83%. For graduate programs, which are not bound by THEC's range, a maintenance fee increase of $5,000,000 was proposed, with a per-semester increase of $240 for undergraduates and $2.86 for graduates.

The meeting concluded with discussions on the financial implications of these proposed increases for full-time students, emphasizing the need to balance operational costs with the financial burden on students. The board will continue to evaluate these proposals and their potential impact on the university community.