Marshall University Faculty Meeting: 3/14 (Meeting 3 of 3)

The Marshall University Faculty Senate meeting discussed the annual budget report, courtesy of university President Stephen Kopp, Thursday, featuring information on employee salaries and compensation, how those payments relate to the university budget and state education reform.

Kopp’s presentation, which was in the form of a PowerPoint, mentioned university expenditures of how much it takes to keep the university operating, as well as how much of the universities money goes solely toward employee salaries each year. A majority of university funds, 62 percent, go toward salaries.

Kopp mentioned during his presentation that more professors at Marshall have a full professor rank than any other Southern Regional Education Board accounted universities. The other professors at Marshall have the ranks of associate or assistant professors.

Switching gears to the much discussed budget cuts, Kopp said the state-wide cuts would affect 4-year educational institutions by forcing a 8.94 percent budget cut, in term affecting scholarships and grants for future students. Because of these cuts, students will face a $730 tuition increase for the upcoming school year. Kopp said the university strives to keep tuition costs as low as possible, even if prices must be raised due to the budget cuts.

The presentation ended with Kopp calling senate members to help in the efforts to stop the raise in student tuition and to help find a solution to the cuts.

After conclusion of Kopp’s presentation, he answered questions about the budget report from audience members and members of the senate. The next faculty senate meeting will be Thursday, April 25.