Gardner-Webb University
Friday, March 26, 2004 www.gwupilotcom Volume 7 No. 13
Board of trustees approve tuition increase
Jennifer Menster
Pilot Staff
Beginning next fall,
Gardner-Webb University
will officially be a $20,000
institution.
Tuition, room and board
are increasing by $1,000 for
the 2004-05 academic year.
The total for undergraduate
tuition will be $20, 300. The
board of trustees approved
the cost during the February
budget meeting.
Tuition costs will
increase $800, room (in the
dorms) $110 and board $90.
The total percentage of the
increase is 5.18 percent,
which is less than last year’s
6.04 percent increase.
Jack Buchanan, vice
’ /
president for enrollment
management, said the
increase will go toward new
faculty positions, faculty
and staff raises and general
expenses of running a busi
ness.
“I believe the increase is
very modest and reason
able,” Buchanan said. “The
increase is traditional within
Gardner-Webb and less than
most private institutions in
North Carolina.”
At the majority of col
leges, total cost of tuition,
room and board multiplies
each year. On average, cost
increases about 4 to 6 per
cent. Last year, the highest
increase for a private institu
tion was 27.54 percent.
Buchanan said GWU raises
tuition slightly each year to
avoid such a large increase.
GWU ranks 14 out of 36
private colleges and univer
sities in North Carolina
according to tuition, room
and board costs. Buchanan
feels GWU’s cost is practi
cal because even though the
tuition does not rank as high
as other schools such as
Meredith and Elon, the edu
cation value of GWU is on
the same level, if not better.
“I feel that our academic
reputation and value of edu
cation rank in the tops but
our costs do not,” Buchanan
said. “Compared to other
schools, it’s a bargain.”
GWU President Frank
Campbell said he is vety
pleased that the increase in
tuition was held down so
low and that the university’s
rank has stayed at about the
same position from year to
year.
When considering the
budget, Campbell and
Buchanan said students are
their major concern.
“We really try to do a
great job to make sure stu
dents are treated fairly,”
Campbell said. “Our top pri
ority is to keep Gardner-
Webb education affordable
for students.”
Buchanan said that
while tuition is increasing,
the amount that returning
students receive in financial
aid will not go up. Buchanan
said the budget does call for
more financial aid, however.
it is planned for new stu
dents.
Tuition scholarships that
are based on a percentage of
the cost will increase with
the higher cost.
“We are always con
cerned for students and we
try our best to keep costs as
low as we can manage,”
Buchanan said. “Students
are our primary concern
because that’s what our bud
get is all about - students.”
Campbell said that the
February budget meeting
was kept short because of
bad weather, and the trustees
discussed the budget and the
NCAA issue, which at the
time, had not been released.
No programs were cut or
added for next year.
GWU Student Body Government executive officers elected
Sean Hubbard
Pilot Staff
With the end of the
school year quickly
approaching, the Student
Government Association at
Gardner-Webb was in need
of filling new positions for
the 2004-2005 academic
year. During dimensions on
Tuesday, March 23, the elec
tion was held for new posi-
tions.
After saying their last
words to convince the stu
dent body that they were the
correct selection for the job,
Kellie Robinson was elected
On the Inside
Administration
responds to
NCAA report...
page 2
president, while Brandon
Juhaish won the vice presi
dent position. Amber
Dimmette was elected secre
tary and Shawn Pendergrass
will be treasurer for the sec
ond consecutive year.
President of SGA for the
2003-2004 year. Chip Carter
is confident that these repre
sentatives will make a posi
tive impact on GWU.
“The four students
elected have proven them
selves to be hard-working,
dedicated representatives for
the students in the past
year,” said Carter. “I have
had the great privilege to see
all four in action and I can
honestly say I look forward
to hearing about all the
things they will accomplish
in the upcoming school
year.”
Carter commends the
new staff on how hard they
work, especially Robinson.
“Kellie has without a
doubt been the hardest
working vice president this
school has ever had, bar
none,” said Carter.
Tuesday morning,
Robinson spoke of many
ideas that she has in store for
See SGA pg. 9
GWU theater
department
delivers New
Plays Festival.
page 3
GWU alumnus
Ron Rash comes
to university...
page 5
Photo by Scott Holstein
Junior Kellie Robinson addresses students during SGA elec
tions at Dimensions. Robinson was elected SGA President for
the 2004-2005 school year. Brandon Juhaish - Vice President;
Amber Dimmette- Secretary; Shawn Pendergrass- Treasurer
President
Campbell
addresses com
munity...
page 6
NFL scouts visit
Gardner-Webb...
page 12
News....pages 2-5
i. 1 V' TT iw %./
Features....pages 6
Op/Ed....page 7-9
f
A&E page 10
page JLU
Sports....pages 11-12