Nicholls fees set for slight increase

Some Nicholls students will see increases in their fee bills this semester, although basic tuition rates will not change, according to the university’s president, Bruce Murphy.

Students enrolled in two programs, culinary and petroleum engineering technology and safety management (PETSM), will see fee increases related to those programs. Murphy said this increase represents only a 1.6 percent increase, due to minor changes in the energy surcharge and student self-assessed fees.” Culinary students will see as much as a $250 fee and PETSM students will see an increase of $150 per semester. “Revenue generated from these two fees will go directly back into these programs,” according to a press release from the university. “Two program specific fees will be added this fall to help expand two of the university’s growing programs. Revenue generated from the two fees will go directly back into these programs in the form of additional faculty, facility improvements, and added instructional equipment and supplies,” the release said.

Nicholls students will see the lowest increase in fees. Murphy said, “While many universities are raising tuition and fees by 10 percent or more, most Nicholls students will see a modest 1.6 percent increase. Nicholls will be making a deliberate shift from the third most expensive to the fourth least expensive option within the nine-university system.”

While the tuition rate remains the same for students who enroll for 15 hours or less, undergraduate students who take more than 16 credit hours will be charged $205.10 per additional credit hour and graduate students will pay $236.90 per additional credit hour. Murphy said the fee was needed so that the university could more efficiently allocate faculty resources and remain fiscally responsible. The press release said the university was losing more than a million dollars a year because of student overloads, in addition to $700,000 annually for faculty costs associated with student overloads. The average student load is 15 hours a semester, and that amount will not change. Most degree programs require students to enroll in 15 hours a semester in order to graduate in four years.

Murphy said he’s only supported increases where students could directly see the benefits.