VINCENNES, IND. – Vincennes University adopted a $134.76 million budget
today for fiscal year 2009-10.
Adopted unanimously by the VU Board of Trustees Finance/Revenue Committee,
the budget includes general fund revenues and expenses of $70.13 million
and auxiliary fund revenues and expenses of $23.65 million. Although the
budget includes no salary increases, it does provide for health insurance
increases of 10 percent.
The Finance/Revenue Committee on July 13 approved increases in tuition and
fees of 3.75 percent in 2009-10 – the smallest percentage increase among
all state universities.
“There are not any significant increases in any of the areas of the budget
because of the fact that our revenue stream is a little less than it was a
year ago, so we had to be cognizant of that as we developed this budget,”
said VU President Dick Helton.
State operating appropriations to VU were cut about 4.6 percent over the
biennial budget adopted by the legislature earlier this year.
“The budget that was adopted relates to the economic times that we have
today. We tried to be mindful about tuition increases and think about our
students and their parents during this economic downturn. At the same
time, we have a responsibility to maintain a quality program at Vincennes
University, so this budget reflects that,” Helton said.
Helton will join other state university presidents Tuesday before the State
Budget Committee to answer questions about tuition increases. “I am
confident about defending this budget because, number one, VU adopted the
lowest percentage increase in tuition among the state universities, being
mindful of our students and their parents,” Helton said. “We feel very
confident that we developed a budget that we can easily justify and at the
same time maintain quality programming for Vincennes University students.”
Helton praised the work of trustees and staff in preparing this year’s
budget. “I cannot say enough about the good work that we have done
collectively to develop this budget. We tried to develop a financial plan
that will allow us to grow as an institution and provide programming that
is important to our students,” Helton said. He singled out both the
Board’s Finance/Revenue Committee and the VU Financial Services Area, under
Vice President Phil Rath, for their work in developing the budget.
“This has been a different budget to prepare. The economic downturn has
certainly had an impact on what we’ve done from the finance standpoint,”
Helton said.
Although stability rather than growth characterizes the adopted budget,
Helton said communities served by VU will receive a boost.
“When you talk about a budget of this magnitude, just the sheer numbers
themselves indicate that this offers a positive impact for the communities
we serve,” Helton said. “When we bring a large number of students to
campus each fall, that also impacts our community from an economic
standpoint, and that’s why it is important that we maintain a quality
budget, quality programs, and we find ways to help our students and
communities at the same time.”
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY – Indiana’s First College
VU is state-supported with campuses in Vincennes and Jasper and additional
sites such as the Indianapolis International Airport. VU also offers
instruction at military sites throughout the nation.
In addition to offering 200 associate degree and certificate programs, VU
also offers bachelor’s degree programs in technology, homeland security,
nursing, and secondary education programs in mathematics, science, and
special education.
VU enrolls students from throughout Indiana, 25 other states, and 37
foreign countries. Tuition and fees are the lowest among Indiana campuses
with residence halls. VU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Founded in 1801, VU is Indiana’s first college and is the only college in
the nation founded by an individual who would later become President of the
United States. William Henry Harrison, the ninth U.S. President, founded
VU while serving as governor of the Indiana Territory. More information is
available at www.vinu.edu.
