Students attending Arkansas State University System institutions will see flat tuition rates this fall after the ASU System Board approved measures reducing budgetary expenses on Thursday, June 4.
The board voted to lower the system’s expenses by approximately $14 million – or 5 percent – as they passed a $279.8 million system budget. The board made the reduction with the expectation of possible lower state revenues and enrollment losses.
According to ASU System President Chuck Welch, the cuts are designed to keep the system “healthy [and] financially stable” without having to dip into reserve funds or make salary cuts or institute furloughs for faculty and staff.
“While we budgeted for lower enrollment to be conservative, our campuses will be working tirelessly to recruit traditional students and adults who want to pursue more education and training for new job opportunities,” Welch said in a statement. “Adults who have a two-year, four-year or professional degree continue to fare much better in the job market.”
Arkansas State University in Jonesboro had a budget decrease of $5.9 million or 2.9 percent. A-State will be receiving $203.5 million for its budget. ASU-Beebe and ASU-Newport received the largest cuts, receiving a $1.9 million cut and a $1.4 million cut, respectively. This accounts for a 7 percent reduction for ASU-Beebe and a 8.3 percent cut for ASU-Newport.
READ MORE: Seven A-State Student-Athletes Test Positive for COVID-19
Image courtesy of Arkansas State University