Doug Vinzant
University Vice President of Administration Doug Vinzant said tuition and fee increase proposals, if any, would be based on budget recommendations.
Vinzant said he and UW President Tom Buchanan wanted to make clear that they both did not consider tuition as a way to deal with budget reductions.
Vinzant said he knew of other public research universities that use tuition to cover budget deficits.
“It’s asking students to pay more but not get additional benefits,” he said.
Vinzant said the reason the university tuition is able to remain so low compared to other research universities is because of the strong state and legislature support.
Vinzant added that financial decisions the university would make would work hand-in-glove with the legislature and governor’s budget recommendations.
Last week, the Associated Press reported that Buchanan said pay raises are the university’s top priority for its operating budget because UW employees are in their third year in a row without a pay raise.
Vinzant said when the Governor developed his budget recommendations, they were based on a revenue forecast made in November 2011.
However, approximately 10 days ago, the revenue forecast for State of Wyoming for the Fiscal Year 12, 13 and 14 was reduced by approximately $164 million, primarily because of a drop in the price of natural gas, according to an email by UW Director of Government Relations Don Richards and Vinzant.
Vinzant said the warmer than expected winter caused the reduced demand for natural gas. Prices have dropped, creating a drop in revenue for the State of Wyoming.
Richards said Mead left substantial available funds, but with the change (and additional funding requests,) he was reducing his budget recommendations by more than $50 million.
