MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State University's Board of Trustees passed a budget plan today that includes an increase in tuition and fees for in-state students within the 4 percent guideline requested by Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan.

Tuition for Indiana residents who enrolled before summer 2003 will be $2,356 per semester, an increase of $90. For students who enrolled after summer 2003, tuition will increase $110 per semester to $2,876.

Out-of-state students will pay an additional 7 percent. Students enrolled before summer 2003 will pay $6,926 per semester, up $458. Tuition for students enrolled after summer 2003 will be $7,464, up $489 per semester.

The university technology fee has been increased from $136 to $141 per semester. Undergraduate and graduate distance education course fees will increase from $174 and $184 to $180 and $192, respectively.

However, on-campus course fees will remain unchanged for the second straight year. The university also did not increase the student health fee and eliminated a $15 fee students paid to drop and add courses.

"We are trying to maintain a balance between securing the resources necessary to offer an outstanding academic experience and ensuring that the investment students and parents make in a Ball State education is a sound one," said Ball State Acting President Beverley J. Pitts. "We believe this plan achieves that balance."

The budget plan includes a 2.5 percent increase in the salary pool. The university and its employees will also pay more for health insurance because of rising costs for health care claims. Those costs are driven by an aging population, an increasing number of plan participants being diagnosed with chronic conditions, and an increasing use of new medical technologies and medicines.

The university remains committed to providing the best health care benefits possible at a reasonable cost, said Thomas Kinghorn, vice president for business affairs and treasurer.

"The health care plan continues to emphasize features designed to improve care while reducing overall costs," he said. "Our program to help those with chronic conditions better monitor and manage their illnesses is an example."

The trustees also approved the university's capital appropriations request for the 2005-07 biennium, which lists two main priorities. They are:

• $28 million to renovate three buildings in the center of campus: Teachers College, Applied Technology and North Quad. Each building requires unique improvements, but the consolidation into one project will permit greater efficiency and cost savings.
• $48 million for improvements to the university's boiler and chilled water plants. The project would replace four coal-fired boilers, upgrade three gas/oil-fired boilers and add two steam-powered chillers. Benefits derived from the improvements include the use of clean coal technology, which will help reduce operating costs, increase efficiency and meet new source environmental standards.

In other news, the trustees:

• approved a proposal to offer a bachelor's degree in women's studies. The university already offers all the courses needed for the degree. The new degree program must be approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
• changed the name of the School of Physical Education to the School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science.