Central Michigan University’s operating budget and tuition prices for the 2022-2023 fiscal year were approved by the Board of Trustees at a meeting June 30.

Budget and Tuition

Lower-level undergraduate tuition will increase by 3.53% in the coming school year.

Tuition for undergraduate students will increase $15 per credit hour, or $450 per year. Rates for upper-level undergraduate, international, masters and doctoral students also will increase.

“I think about budgets as a statement of principles, a statement of priorities, a blueprint for how we go forward together and build a better CMU,” said Trustee Richard Studley.

As tuition increases, so will CMU’s investment in Maroon and Gold scholarships. Those scholarships are need and merit-based, tied to a percentage of tuition rather than a fixed dollar amount.

CMU is projected to have an increase in incoming students for the first time since 2014.

“Through regression analysis and things along those lines, it is showing an increase in our freshmen numbers as well as our transfer numbers,” President Davies said. “We are looking at noticeable increases.”

Davies said they are expecting lower revenues for the coming year, so some budget reductions were needed.

The approved $434.7 million operating budget includes allocations for student success, mental health resources, and investment in recruitment, enrollment and retention initiatives.

The budget also includes a 2% salary increase for non-unionized CMU staff. Davies said union workers have different rates of salary increases, but all are close to 2%.

The board said their priorities going into the 2022-2023 school year are focused on student success and academic quality as well as health, safety, compliance and critical infrastructure. Davies said the budget is flexible and adaptable, and adjustments may be necessary as the year progresses.

Academic and Student Affairs

To better support students and curricular needs within the College of Education and Human Services, the Department of Counseling and Special Education is being split and reorganized. Counseling programs will merge with other areas to create the Department of Counseling, Educational Leadership and Higher Education. Special education will merge with other departments to create the Department of Teacher and Special Education.

CMU Global Campus has been restructured to create a new academic unit called CMU Innovation and Online, which was approved at the June meeting.

Elizabeth “Betty” Kirby was appointed as Vice President of the new program. She joined CMU faculty in 2004, and most recently Kirby served as interim dean of the College of the Arts and Media. Kirby has previously served as dean of the College of Education and Human Services.

Other

At the meeting, Rumie Martinez was bestowed with an Emerita rank. She served students at the university for more than 38 years, most notably as an Academic Advisor for 15 years and a Student Service Advisor for 10 years.

“She has inspired thousands of students’ lives throughout their journey navigating their educational goals at the institution,” Trustee Regine Beauboeuf said as she bestowed Martinez with the Emerita rank.

Following a traffic jam yesterday, parking enforcement is adding signage on campus, including stop signs.

A new ordinance says drivers can no longer back into a space on campus without a front license plate. They will also be implementing license plate recognition technology.

The board has approved the traffic ordinance and the new campus map.