Update: May 3, 2012: UT System Regents Approve UTEP Tuition and Fees Increase

The Process

UTEP President Diana Natalicio, in consultation with Student Government Association President Pablo Padilla, convened a student-majority committee on Nov. 1, 2011 to discuss the tuition and fee rates for the next two years. 

Committee members include:

Co-Chairs 

Pablo Padilla, Student Government Association president 

Gary Edens, associate vice president and dean of students

Students 

Gregory Parra

Ivette Ortega

Tanya Maestes

Mariana Candelario 

Pablo Perez

Mauricio Barba

Andrea Gutierrez

Shannon Murphy

Daniel Ramirez 

Faculty and Staff

Bob Nachtmann, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business Administration

Cynthia “Cindy” Vizcaíno Villa, vice president for business affairs

Elizabeth “Liza” Flores, associate provost for resource management 

John Wiebe, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Psychology

Stella Quinones, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Engineering

The committee reviewed information provided by the Office of the Vice President of Business Affairs, detailing measures that have been taken to cut $27 million in costs during the last two years. These measures include: reorganizing staffing in various areas to use resources more efficiently, pursuing aggressive energy management strategies, implementing a limited hiring freeze, giving no merit raises to faculty and staff in 2011-12, suspending the computer replacement program for two years, instituting across-the-board reductions and following conservative budget management. 

After reviewing the information, the committee met on Nov. 8 and 9 to consider the options. The committee members voted to propose a tuition increase of 2.6 percent for in-state undergraduate students, and 3.6 percent for out-of-state students and all graduate students. 

Their decision was based on the significant reductions in state appropriations due to the current economic conditions, and the need to recruit and retain the best faculty as UTEP moves toward becoming a national research university. UTEP’s enrollment continues to grow each year, and as it does, the University must hire additional faculty members and offer additional classes. As the campus expands, energy and utility costs also increase. 

 Next Steps

UTEP will hold several open forums —on campus and online — to present the proposed plan and answer questions. The University will submit the proposal to the UT System Board of Regents by Dec. 15, after which the Regents will offer feedback on the plan. UTEP will submit its final proposal in spring 2012 to be voted on by the Regents. If the plan is approved, it would be effective for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years.