ETSU Board of Trustees Approves Tuition and Fees Increases

JOHNSON CITY, TENN. — The Board of Trustees at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) have ratified a 5.25% increase in the tuition and fees for the forthcoming school year. This announcement came during the board’s latest quarterly meeting on May 29, 2024. The adjustment in the tuition fee structure forms part of an objective to fund salary raises for faculty members.

Simultaneously, the board sanctioned promotions and conferred tenure to 54 faculty members. “Our faculty represent the tripartite purpose of higher education: teaching, research, and service,” explained ETSU Provost Dr. Kimberly D. McCorkle. “This is an institution that conducts cutting-edge research and provides a world-class education while remaining open and accessible to all.”

Compensation Rates and Revenue Increase

The ETSU President, Dr. Brian Noland, underlined the significance of the recruitment, nurturing, and retention of high-quality faculty and employees as pivotal to the university’s missions. “To continue offering an exceptional education, we must ensure that we continue to employ and retain exceptional people,” Noland added. “Currently, ETSU’s compensation rates are below market, and closing these gaps is of critical importance.”

The Board marked its approval of the revenue increase, which is dedicated to salaries in next year’s budget. This development led to the creation of a $6.68 million salary pool, with a significant fraction of the additional money being generated by the augmentation of tuition and fees in the fall semester. Further elaborations on the distribution and specifications of salary enhancements are due for review and action in the fall.

Impact on Students

Following the approved increased tuition rate, in-state undergraduate students anticipate paying approximately $261 more per semester. The Board disclosed that the average annual increase of tuition and fees in the previous five years at ETSU has only witnessed roughly a 2% increase.

University’s Academic Structure and Research Update

The board also affirmed a proposal to amend the university’s academic structure. This change promotes greater collaboration within academic programs and aligns closely with the needs of the community and workforce. A key element of this new structure will involve moving programs to the newly christened College of Health Sciences, spotlighting the university’s strengths in the health sciences.

On the research front, ETSU is making strides toward being a premier research university. Since 2020, research expenditures, a critical measure in the premier research institution designation, have surged three-fold from $13.9 million to $42.3 million. Last year, the university also secured over $70 million in external research funding to support projects that benefit the region and the state.