In August, the Board of Regents agreed on a 2013 budget requesting $14.5 million in additional funds they say could help stem rising student fees. The BOR is seeking $1.7 million to offset an annual 7.2 percent increase in student fees. State funding for higher education has dropped from 59 to 41 percent since the year 2000. The widening gap between state allocations and a university’s base budget means students are picking up the tab when education costs rise. According to Janelle Toman, Communications Director for the South Dakota Board of Regents, the budget request is aimed at making the BOR system more competitive for faculty. Currently, 82 percent of each student fee dollar goes to funding faculty salaries. Universities fund roughly two-thirds of these salaries independent of the legislature.
http://www.sdsucollegian.com/2012/08/29/bor-requests-14-5-million-in-additional-state-funds/
