Engineering tuition and medical school lease top board agenda

KALAMAZOO—Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 20, the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees is expected to consider approval of a proposal to implement a differential tuition policy for the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Meeting at 11 a.m. in Rooms 157-159 of the Bernhard Center, the board will hear details of a proposal to adopt a per-credit-hour differential tuition rate to be assessed on all undergraduate students affiliated with the engineering college, effective with the spring 2013 semester. The proposal also calls for elimination of course fees in the college and dedicating revenue from the move to enhance undergraduate curricula and increase financial aid in the college.

Also during the meeting, trustees will consider approval of a lease prepayment agreement between the University and the new WMU School of Medicine, which is a private 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The proposed agreement would provide the University with funds sufficient to pay the principal and interest and any additional payments due on bonds the University will issue to renovate the building, which was donated to WMU in December to house the medical school.   

In addition, the board is expected to consider purchase from the city of Kalamazoo of a small piece of property adjacent to WMU's Western View Phase II construction project as well as vote on a State Capital Outlay Priority List for the University's required annual submission to the state.   

A number of other items round out the board agenda including, a lease agreement for a property on Howard Street as well as reports covering gifts, grants and personnel changes.