Samford University’s board of trustees has approved tuition and fee rates for the 2007–2008 academic year. Trustees also approved official names for the new athletics and special events facility, scheduled to open in fall 2007.
Tuition for full-time undergraduate students, beginning with the fall 2007 semester, will be $8,960 per semester, an increase of $960, or 12 percent. An increase of 6.5 percent to $13,946 per semester was approved for Samford’s Cumberland School of Law. Tuition will increase 5 percent to $11,697 per semester for Samford’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy. Tuition for Samford’s Metro Programs will increase 4 percent to $289 per credit hour.
"Samford makes every effort to keep the university affordable for our constituents," Clayton Fogg, Samford’s budget officer, said. "At the same time, we must ensure that Samford continues to provide the quality academic programs that our students and other constituents deserve and have come to expect. Samford provides a low student/faculty ratio, a high percentage of small class sizes and attracts and retains an outstanding faculty. That does not come without costs."
Samford’s total cost still is about 33 percent below the national average for private universities, Fogg noted.
Samford President Andrew Westmoreland noted that the university is developing initiatives to bolster its academic programs, including additional staffing, scholarships and program support.
Room and board fees will increase 4 percent with actual costs varying according to the residence facility and the board plan.
The university is investing about $200,000 in "substantial improvements" to meal selections and dining facilities for the 2007–2008 academic year, university officials said. Students with meal plans will receive an additional $30 per semester for fall and spring on their declining balances.
The university still must seek additional revenue sources to meet budget demands, according to Michael D. Morgan, vice president for university relations. The university continues to receive about $5 million annually — or 3 percent of its revenue budget — from Alabama Baptists. More than $10 million in additional gifts are also expected from alumni, parents, foundations and other donors.
The new $32-million athletics and special events facility will be named Pete Hanna Center in honor of the Birmingham businessman and Samford trustee who provided a major gift for the project.
At Hanna’s request, the 5,000-seat arena in the new building will be named Thomas E. and Marla H. Corts Arena in honor of Samford’s president emeritus and his wife. Corts retired in May 2006.
The new 132,000-square-foot building will house the arena, as well as a fitness/wellness center and offices, locker rooms and training facilities for the university’s athletics department. Arena seating can be expanded to 6,000 for commencement and other special events.
Morgan noted that other naming opportunities still are available in the new building and will be part of a $3-million campaign this year to complete funding for the facility. (SU)
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