Adams State Trustees approve tuition, housing increases
TUITION is going up at Adams State for the 2022-23 academic year under a budget adopted Friday by the Adams State Board of Trustees. It’s the third consecutive year Trustees have increased tuition at the school in the face of declining enrollment.
The new $70 million annual spending plan includes a $4 per credit-hour hike for in-state students and $11 per credit-hour for out-of-state students. Adams State also hiked on-campus housing by three percent.
Adams State said the tuition increases were “modest.”
“Although there are small increases in tuition and housing, this gives the university flexibility for strategic investments on campus, including housing,” said Board Chair Michele Lueck.
The new budget includes a three percent pay increase for university employees and additional salary increases for eligible exempt staff positions, similar to budgeted increases for faculty that were part of the previous year, according to Adams State officials.
Adams State is on a three-year downward trend for undergraduate enrollment, with a fall 2021 enrollment of 1,435 full-time and part-time students compared to 1,813 in fall 2018.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Here’s a more detailed look at Adams State undergraduate student headcount by fall semester. The number of total credit hours the student body takes has been dropping in relation to student enrollment declines. It’s increases to the per credit-hour charge a student pays that Adams State has been increasing to help address the loss of students.
Fall 2021
1,435 total headcount
1,172 full-time students and 263 part-time students
Total credit hours 18,723
Freshmen Class: 458
Sophomore Class: 286
Junior Class: 320
Senior Class: 371
Fall 2020
1,528 total headcount
1,240 full-time students and 288 part-time students
Total credit hours 19,860
Freshmen Class: 503
Sophomore Class: 304
Junior Class: 335
Senior Class: 386
Fall 2019
1,667 total headcount
1,338 full-time students and 329 part-time students
Total credit hours 21,378
Freshmen Class: 572
Sophomore Class: 353
Junior Class: 340
Senior Class: 401
Undergraduate non-degree: 1
Fall 2018
1,813 total headcount
1,450 full-time students and 363 part-time students
Total credit hours 23,394
Freshmen Class: 652
Sophomore Class: 343
Junior Class: 343
Senior Class: 474
Undergraduate non-degree: 1
Source: Adams State Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Adams State announces
Presidential Teaching Awards
Rena Kirkland, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, and professor Jeff Tucker, adjunct professor of counselor education, received the 2021-2022 Adams State University Presidential Teaching Awards.
“Teaching is a privilege,” said Kirkland. “First, I benefit from learning from my students, and second, I have an opportunity to shape young adults. My goal is to help teach students habits of excellence that they will apply to all areas of their life.”
Tucker believes students learn best when they know that their teacher cares for them and wants to see them succeed. “They appreciate seeing the humanity of their teachers. I consider meaning-making to be fundamental to quality education. Students want to know why what they are learning should matter to them.”
Kirkland received the award for teaching undergraduate students and Tucker for graduate level courses. Students nominated faculty in the fall. An all-faculty committee then reviewed those nominations to select the semi-finalists, and Associated Students & Faculty organized a student committee that reviewed teaching evaluations submitted by the semi-finalists to select the winners and honorable mentions.
Blaine Reilly, Ph.D., clinical professor of counselor education, received an honorable mention for graduate professors.
Kirkland and Tucker will each receive $1,500. Honorable mention for undergraduate teaching went to Eugene Schilling, professor of art. Semi-finalists for the awards: Sheryl Abeyta, assistant professor of accounting; Liz Thomas Hensley, Ph.D., professor of business; Heidi Schneider, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology; Cheri Meder, Ph.D., professor of counselor education; Nick Saenz, Ph.D., professor of history; and Yusri Zaro, assistant professor of business.
