High Quality Education in 2012 - 2013
9 March 2012
Dear Members of the Butler Community:
Butler University is committed to providing the highest quality of
education to our students. We strive to offer a close-knit,
diverse, academic environment that instills within our students a
lifelong dedication to learning, community leadership and global
awareness. Great faculty, along with great staff and facilities,
are the key to our success.
Over the past several months, members of the Butler University
Board of Trustees and the Butler Leadership Team have undertaken an
in-depth review of Butler's financial position vis-à-vis
the needs and expectations of our students (both current and
prospective) and their families.
At our recent Board of Trustees meeting, we discussed the question
of tuition/room/board costs for next year at length. Our
deliberations centered upon striking an appropriate balance between
two factors: 1) the legitimate concerns of students and families
about the rising costs of higher education - and the corresponding
return on that investment with respect to career placements, and 2)
the legitimate need for Butler University to maintain a learning
environment that delivers upon its promises - which involves
adequate compensation for faculty and staff; maintenance of safe,
state-of-the-art facilities; and the pursuit of new strategic
initiatives.
A driving factor in our deliberations was the reality that until
Butler University dramatically increases its endowment, we will
remain highly tuition-dependent. We currently depend on
tuition/room/board for nearly 87 percent of our operating budget.
In the meantime, however, we must deliver upon the educational
promises we make to our students and families.
As such, the Board of Trustees has decided to increase tuition by
3.75 percent (one of the lowest percentage increases in Butler's
history), room by 3.4 percent and board by 6.1 percent. (The 6.1
percent increase for the meal plan reflects a major overhaul in the
quality, flexibility, and delivery of our services.)
To further support our students and families, our 2012-2013 budget
will include nearly $50 million in student scholarships and grants
- $11 million more than when the economic downturn began four years
ago.
The last several years have been difficult economically, and Butler
University is highly sensitive to the resulting needs of our
students and families. At the same time, we must maintain and
improve upon the attributes that make a Butler education
exceptional: caring and highly-accessible faculty and staff;
cutting-edge technology and academic resources; state-of-the-art
learning, living, dining and recreation facilities; cultural,
athletic and social offerings; an attractive and safe campus
environment; and a prestigious brand to ensure a high degree-value
in the career marketplace.
I thank you in advance for your support. Together, we will redefine
Butler's financial position and lead our University to
unprecedented levels of price-point accessibility, quality and
success for the benefit of our students. In the meantime, we must
judiciously make the very best decisions we can with the resources
we have at our disposal. As always, I welcome your questions.
Sincerely,
James M. Danko, President
Butler University