Contact:
Elizabeth Blevins, Director, Office of Communications
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 464-4854
940 Second Street – Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
E-mail: eblevins@shawnee.edu 
Web site: www.shawnee.edu

            During its meeting Friday, September 11, the Shawnee State University Board of Trustees approved a 2010 fiscal year budget for the University, which includes a 3.5 percent increase in tuition beginning spring semester.
            “With the State’s budget that was finalized in July, public universities were authorized to increase their tuition rates to help manage cuts in funding,” Dr. Rita Rice Morris, SSU president, explained. “Some universities raised fall tuition rates. We didn’t want to do that. We wanted students and parents to have time to plan, and we wanted to get a better picture of the impact that reductions in funding were going to have on our ability to continue to plan for the future.”
            Morris said that the increase is imperative to allow the university to continue moving forward. This fall, Shawnee State University increased enrollment by more than eight percent, welcoming 4300 students to campus. New graduate programs, services, and facilities are attracting new students and plans are in the budget for continued investments in student programs and services.
            “Affordability remains a priority to us,” Morris said. “We continue to be the best academic value in the state of Ohio, combining low tuition with academic excellence.”
            During the meeting, the Board of Trustees also affirmed the approval of a three-year contract with Shawnee Education Association, which represents the faculty at SSU, and extended the contract of Dr. David Todt, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, to five years.
            “Continuity of strong leadership is critical to the university during these times,” Dr. Morris said. “Dave is an exceptional leader and is vital to our ongoing transition to the requirements of the University System of Ohio. We are fortunate that he has agreed to continue to serve in this capacity.”
            Other action items during the Board meeting includes the expansion of the Director of Center for International Programs position to full-time, the approval of a one-year program specialist position for the WIRED project, and the approval of an identity theft policy in compliance with federal regulations.