The WKU Board of Regents is set to approve the university’s 2023-2024 operating budget, which includes a 3% tuition raise, at a specially called meeting on Friday.

The 2024 operating budget is set at $389.9 million, a 2% increase from the 2023 operating budget. This increase comes from raises in tuition and fees, restricted funds and other revenue, according to the WKU 2023-2024 operating budget. Revenue decreases are seen in state appropriations as well as sales and services and auxiliary. 

In March, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education set the tuition and mandatory fee ceiling for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 at an increase maximum of 5%, with no more than a 3% increase in any academic year.

According to the operating budget, WKU leadership recommends a 3% tuition increase for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Tuition will change for residents and military veterans/dependents, raising from $5,556 per semester to $5,718. Like fiscal year 2023, the tuition raises only affect residents and military veterans/dependents.

Expenditures in the operating budget have also increased from the 2022-2023 year, with a university-wide salary increase pool of 2% set for January 2024. The scholarship budget for 2024 will also be increased by $5 million, with the incoming class receiving the “more expansive scholarship model.”

The total capital budget for 2024 is $218,346,000, which is for expenditures that create assets with a “multi-year life” and projects that are budgeted separately from the operating budget.

The authorized capital projects for 2022-2024 are the new Gordon Ford College of Business building, with an estimated cost of $74.4 million, and Cherry Hall asset preservation, with an estimated cost of $30 million. The projects also include improvements to the soccer and softball complex and the reauthorization of athletic facilities construction and renovation.

Other authorized projects that are not scheduled for 2024 until funds are identified include the renovation of the Potter College of Arts and Letters facilities, Cherry Hall and Jody Richards Hall, among many others.

At the last Board of Regents meeting, the regents approved an amendment by President Timothy Caboni to replace the Academic Complex rather than renovate it. This is also listed as an authorized project.

The Board of Regents will hold regular committee meetings after the special budget approval meeting.

The Academic Affairs committee will present five action items. The committee will seek approval of the suspension of the Russian and East European studies minor. It will also seek approval for three new undergraduate certificates in teaching English to speakers of other languages, strategies for trauma informed approaches to improving resilience, and professional and technical writing. Approval of emeritus recommendations will also be presented.

The Finance and Budget committee will then present for approval of personnel actions and approval of an internal audit work plan.

The Herald reached out to Board of Regents chair Philip Bale for a comment, but received no response. The Herald also contacted Jace Lux, WKU director of media relations, but received no response, as he is out of the office for this week. This story will be updated if his comment becomes available.

Editor-in-chief Alexandria Anderson can be reached at [email protected].