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EMU Regents Finalize New Fiscal Year Budget, Includes Tuition Increase

Lisa Barry

Undergraduate tuition and fees at EMU will increase 3.9 percent or $474 per student taking 30 credits per year.  The increase is just under the state tuition restraint cap and will allow Eastern to continue receiving state performance funding for not exceeding the state guidelines.

The boardauthorized University president Dr. James Smith to pursue privatizing parking at Eastern, and several students, including junior Alison Centers, shared their concern about what that could mean for student jobs and parking fees.

"My concern is I’m going to lose my job if they privatize, and the hang tabs will go up and the prices for the pay lots will go up and this school, instead of being seen as affordable, will be seen as they just want our money,” says Centers.

Credit Lisa Barry
Alison Centers, an EMU student parking department employee expressed her concern about privatizing parking on campus.

  
But President Smith says they're looking for an agreement which best benefits the university, staff and students.

"What is the asset that we’re getting back in exchange for the asset of parking?  That’s the big question, and what are the terms," Smith says.

Credit Lisa Barry
A group of concerned EMU student employees.

The EMU President added keeping free parking at Rynearson Stadium will be part of any new parking deal that is made.

The overall 2017-18 fiscal year budget is just under $308 million, and University officials are still waiting to hear from staff members who've been offered early retirement to know the bottom line impact on the budget moving forward.


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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu

Lisa Barry was a reporter, and host of All Things Considered on 89.1 WEMU.
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