[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6572564,"mediaKeyId","3685425-aa8127730f0d5eda475226ea9e784595","parentId",3685425,"title","Tennessee Tech board approves 4.8% undergraduate tuition increase and mandatory fee changes","audioSeconds",2518,"startMs",3027000,"endMs",5545000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685425-aa8127730f0d5eda475226ea9e784595&start=3027&end=5545","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685425-aa8127730f0d5eda475226ea9e784595/thumbnail_3027000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6572564/Tennessee/Tennessee-Tech-board-approves-48-undergraduate-tuition-increase-and-mandatory-fee-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572564-b14f41e6f7f30bdd4b5ad628572bbab5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457094&Signature=G3v70niZKRybXBSXYdIB3Ynl5nu1wLmUVnvIB4qgs6ghJ83AnKDpUJ00GlNF3sEGDY~yXGhjTACt8yd8VVhvF5~T4i8F-WI9yue5E7zBF03Gt8rwRMEEimgcdzaW1u8nSAYBGXbZSc-PpIEmuwvCrArb~QKxAcLp93L6TrGt-EwBunJ9ObzuQYkHfI7O~hsQdzRQReyLG23nwgIYMdFCZ5HYfMgxkZdyfeqjutZbAR~PKdPhGkUpI~U02u~TtfBYMvsjGJDVPuVLaB9akyfnhO92fJ1ud-ECMufMq13JTWyzXZNilVF9Zd~HbUujaBwrGy2b4FGazF~ZJpPuUrUMJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tennessee Tech University","date","2025-04-30T00:00:00Z","article","The Tennessee Technological University Board of Trustees voted to raise undergraduate maintenance tuition by 4.8%, set a 5.0% graduate maintenance increase and increase mandatory fees by 5.05% for the coming year.

Dr. Stinson presented the proposal, telling trustees the increase responds in part to limited state operating support and to inflationary pressures including salary and benefit costs. The presentation noted the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) established a 0–6.5% range for institutions this year and that Tennessee Tech’s proposed increases fall below that maximum. Dr. Stinson said state appropriations for FY25–26 include partial funding for salary increases but that tuition must cover remaining operating needs.

Trustees heard peer comparisons showing a range of proposed tuition increases across Tennessee institutions: examples cited included Austin Peay (5%), East Tennessee State University (near 5%), Middle Tennessee State University (about 5.5%), UT Chattanooga (3%), UT Martin (3%) and others. The board was told the university’s proposed undergraduate increase translates to about $240 more per full-time undergraduate student per semester. Administrators recommended a $15-per-semester increase to a facilities-development fee (to fund student-centric space renewals and furniture replacement) and a $20-per-semester increase to the fitness center fee to cover equipment replacement and operations.

Dr. Stinson and trustees discussed financial-aid offsets. Presentation materials listed common award types — the Presidential Scholarship, HOPE Scholarship, Pell Grant, Tennessee Student Assistance Award and the Aspire award — and noted that roughly half of Tennessee Tech students receive Pell grants (many not at full Pell amounts). Trustees were shown sample net‑cost calculations for different scholarship scenarios and were reminded that state scholarship programs and institutional aid can reduce the out-of-pocket impact for many students.

The administration estimated the revenue from the proposed tuition and fee increases at approximately $4.28 million, combined with state appropriations of about $3.1 million, leaving a budgetary balance of roughly $224,000 to address other projected cost increases (including a 2.6% salary pool with fringes, faculty promotions and inflation in utilities and contracts).

Trustees and presenters spent substantial time on communications and student impacts. Several trustees read or referenced public comments from students and said better communication with students about how fees are used and about available aid is important. Trustees also discussed athletics funding: presenters and trustees noted misconceptions among some commenters that tuition primarily funds athletics and reiterated that auxiliaries and athletic fundraising operate separately from the general tuition budget.

After discussion, the board approved the tuition-and-fees recommendation by roll-call vote. Those recorded voting \"Aye\" included Trustee Lowery, Trustee Luna, Trustee Linn, Trustee Rose, Trustee Rhodes, Trustee Sykes and Trustee Harper; the motion passed. Trustees asked administrators to continue working on financial-aid outreach and on clearer communications about the drivers of cost and the effect of state appropriations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tennessee Tech University - Board of Trustees Special Meeting - April 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees approved a 4.8% increase in undergraduate maintenance tuition, a 5.0% increase for graduate maintenance fees and a 5.05% rise in mandatory fees; trustees and administrators discussed state funding patterns, peer university comparisons, student aid and the estimated per‑student impact.","taxTitle","Tennessee Technological University, Public Universities, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",79445,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6572569,"Tennessee Tech board approves Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Computing",2928,78000,3006000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3685425-aa8127730f0d5eda475226ea9e784595&start=78&end=3006","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3685425-aa8127730f0d5eda475226ea9e784595/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6572569/Tennessee/Tennessee-Tech-board-approves-Bachelor-of-Science-in-Interdisciplinary-Computing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6572569-9aa229c3aaf4a89b3a271806b1dcce6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770457094&Signature=cRxzw2fbyBfbF9vqsSbBW3cbj7bWMBIjxnr~VvxP0siwWV1xv9ZytvgOkok5~yHl71DCZQo7DeXERBAkUIFYtOKVJ5awzh5HGJVA84ZL8hn91QWsv6gaUghgiTlPYaE7yW5HkUh3cv72JmeSaTZPmAG1f7F18SpWLaz4PjGfbrY~M~nZDqxU54~b8PTiGd9tjGnIah2Hkd~pvmJIeRb7bwO0wrd1GfqQxs2C392WukjYZiBtUjvQqj9dca70f9bsffLfs2zM8lSlLtHrtkRU3bdLkLHPQ1-zCnm6hayzLAaPiEN0ON7jn-3rKQiANZ7TAz8ihchhf5bRsT4GxyIdEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Technological University Board of Trustees voted to approve a proposal to create a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Computing and to place the proposal on the PTAC Commission agenda for May 15.

The board was presented with program details by Dr. Sharon Ho, who described the degree as a cross-disciplinary bachelor’s program that combines computing, artificial intelligence and data science with a student’s chosen “cognitive” field — for example business, agriculture or journalism. The degree will be housed in the College of Engineering Studies and guided in partnership with the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Dr. Ho said.

Proponents told trustees the program is designed to respond to items in the state higher-education master plan and to meet employer demand for graduates who can apply computing skills in other fields. Dr. Ho said letters of support from regional employers and external reviewers describe the proposal as “the right program at the right time.” The development team also reported a campus survey showing strong student interest: 94% of survey respondents indicated Tennessee Tech should offer the degree, and 72% said it aligned with career goals.

The curriculum as presented requires 120 credit hours on a typical undergraduate structure and includes: 41 credits of general education, 30 credits of computing, 25 credits in the chosen cognitive area and 18 credits in an “intersectional” core; the program also includes 10 credit hours of experiential learning and 6 hours of electives. Dr. Ho said four new courses have been developed for initial delivery (two from computer science and two from engineering/public health-related units).

Enrollment and finance projections were part of the trustees’ discussion. The development team projected roughly 10 new students in year one, growing to about 40 students by year five. Estimated first-year operating costs were presented at about $240,000, rising to roughly $274,000 by year five. Projected tuition revenue was reported as approximately $114,000 in year one and about $512,000 by year five, driven by enrollment growth, according to the materials presented to the board.

Trustees pressed presenters on quality controls and on metrics for continuing or closing the program if enrollments do not meet projections. Dr. Oldham and other trustees said typical review timelines call for frequent monitoring and the ability to adapt or sunset a program if it is not meeting enrollment or financial benchmarks; presenters said departments and a future program director would be responsible for ongoing recruitment, cognate engagement and program adjustments. Multiple trustees emphasized that campus departments must actively partner with the new program for it to succeed.

Trustees noted the program’s explicit emphasis on producing graduates who can work at the intersection of computing and another discipline — described by presenters as an effort to deliver “literacy” in computing plus domain knowledge rather than producing only traditional computer-science majors.

After discussion, the board approved the proposal by roll-call vote. Those recorded voting \"Aye\" were Trustee Jones, Trustee Lowery, Trustee Luna, Trustee Land, Trustee Rose, Trustee Bridal, Trustee Sykes and Trustee Harper; the motion passed. The board directed that, if approved by the board, the proposal be placed on the PTAC Commission agenda for its May 15 meeting for the next step of external review and recognition.

Trustees and presenters said they expect further reporting to the board on early enrollments, cognate participation, course delivery and any needed budget adjustments. Presenters repeatedly emphasized that the program’s success depends on sustained partnership from cognate departments and on regular review of enrollment and financial metrics.","The Tennessee Technological University Board of Trustees voted to approve a new Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Computing and to place the proposal on the PTAC Commission agenda for May 15, citing workforce demand, a structured cognate approach and experiential learning requirements. Trustees recorded the approval by roll-call vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Tennessee Tech board approves 4.8% undergraduate tuition increase and mandatory fee changes

Tennessee Tech board approves Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Computing