MARQUETTE, Mich.—The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees today approved a 2012-13 tuition and fees schedule. The annual cost for full-time resident undergraduates will be $8,709, an increase of about $148 per semester—or 3.5 percent—from last year’s rate of $8,414. NMU will maintain its longtime rank as having the second-lowest tuition and fees among Michigan’s public universities.

“We don’t like to have to raise the cost of getting an education and impose that additional cost on students and their families,” said Trustee Stephen Adamini. “When I was a student, the state’s share of higher education was 85-90 percent. In the 1980s, it was around 68 percent and now it’s down to 40.  We all recognize the value to society of having an educated population. Because of the public benefit, the public shares in that responsibility. Northern has consistently provided one of the most affordable opportunities to earn a baccalaureate degree in the state. We’re doing our fair share and more of seeing to it that people can get a high-quality education at a somewhat reasonable price. The faculty and staff should be congratulated for that.”

Gavin Leach, vice president for finance and administration, said the recommendation was based on projected enrollment changes for the coming academic year, along with the need to make strategic investments of $3.7 million in program quality, personnel, support services and branding/marketing to grow enrollment. Trustee Gil Ziegler cast the lone vote against the tuition proposal. The board also voted to increase the art and design program fee from $200 per semester to $250 to support technology tools required by the respective majors. The full tuition and fees schedule is available at www.nmu.edu/tuition.

The board also approved an executive committee recommendation of a three-year interim presidential employment agreement for David Haynes through June 30, 2015. Haynes receives the same wages and benefits paid to former President Les Wong, with a base salary of $201,995. He will serve the first two years as interim president and split the third year between assisting with special projects and/or consulting NMU’s new president, assuming a successful nationwide search, and taking sabbatical leave in preparation for his return to the faculty. Haynes also will be granted tenure in the political science and public administration department.

In other action at today’s meeting, the board:

▪Approved a new policy statement regarding the reporting status for Martha Haynes, vice president for advancement.

▪Approved a resolution to charter Experiencia Preparatory Academy in urban southwestern Detroit, with an opening of September 2013. Experiencia was developed by a non-profit organization and will utilize education service provider CS Partners to support financial matters, human resources and curriculum. It will be located in a building formerly used by the Detroit Public Schools system. The emphasis will be on applied learning opportunities in the community through business and organizational partnerships.

▪ Appointed the following board members to the university’s public school academies for terms expiring June 30, 2015, unless otherwise noted: Nicholas Van Alstine and Anthony Andary, Bahweting Public School Academy; Arthur Bone, Burton Glen Charter School Academy; Charlotte Harris (June 30, 2013), Charles Wandahsega, Constance Sagataw, Crystal Lea, Marilyn Shawano and Geneva Wandahsega, Nah Tah Wahsh Charter School Academy; Ronald DeMarse (June 30, 2014) and Curtis Hewitt, North Star Academy; and Juanita Bell, South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy.

▪Authorized $52,000 for roof repairs to Kaye House.

▪Accepted $24,100 in external grants and $300 in gifts.

▪Approved a donation of old furniture being replaced in Gant Hall, valued at $35,000, to Marquette County Habitat for Humanity.