Lake State board approves 3.75 per cent tuition increase

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY

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SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH. - The Lake Superior State University Board of Trustees, meeting in special session Friday, set tuition and fees for the 2017-2018 academic year and approved a recommendation to negotiate a contract for an interim president.

The board set tuition at $5,616 per semester, a $203 or 3.75 per cent increase over last year. The rate includes a $1 per semester increase to the environmental fee, which covers, among other things, complimentary laundry facilities in campus living areas. Room and board costs are set at $9,594 per year, a 1.6 per cent increase over the 2016-2017 academic year.

“The university is committed to keeping costs as low as possible to provide an excellent education at an affordable price. We offer students a private school experience at public university prices,” said acting LSSU President David Roland Finley. "LSSU students enjoy small classes, personal attention, and the opportunity to work directly with their professors in the laboratory and field. We want to maintain LSSU's value between pricing and the high quality education that a student receives.”

LSSU has a “one-rate” tuition policy that levels the price of tuition for all students in North America. Formerly, most students from outside of Michigan paid a higher price. The change was made to attract more out-of-state students as the number of high school graduates in Michigan continues to decline.

The board approved a recommendation to move forward with a contractual agreement between professional consulting company, Proactive Transition Management (PTM) and LSSU for Dr. Peter Mitchell to serve as interim president for one year.

Peter Mitchell currently runs PTM. The company manages change and transitions for colleges and universities, providing strategic responses to specific challenges and opportunities. PTM also offers executive searches, compensation studies, evaluation, and individually-tailored professional coaching programs for college and university presidents and vice presidents.

LSSU Board of Trustee Thomas Bailey said, “I was very impressed with Dr. Mitchell and I believe he will give LSSU an opportunity to make changes, resolve issues, and move forward in finding our next president.”

A final draft of the contract between PTM and LSSU is slated for review Monday and, if agreed by both parties, Mitchell’s official start date is anticipated to be July 1.

The meeting concluded after the board approved a contract between LSSU and a local contractor to begin the Walker Cisler Center roof renovation project.

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