Dr. Jordan, President of Metro State, made the following statement:

“Metro State is moving forward with the student fee for the first building of the neighborhood.  However, as I promised the student body at yesterday’s SGA meeting, if the higher ed funding crisis is not solved, we will drop the fee.  If the state does not restore funding to higher ed, we would not have such a critical space problem, and our enrollment could be reduced dramatically.”

Metro State is committed to solving the space shortage for Metro students and faculty, improving the delivery of student services, and increasing the visibility of the College. In order to accomplish this goal, it is important that Metro State continue to move forward on its plan for the new building. As well, it is important that students vote in the coming student election, April 13-17.

Dr. Jordan has promised that if the students pass the student bond fee for the new building and the budget crisis cannot be solved, the College will NOT charge students the fee. 

If you have any questions or concerns, about the budget situation, how it affects the plan for the building, or anything else, please post your comments here or click “contact” above

We at Metro State have an opportunity to chart a new path for the college. It is important that we continue to call attention to the value of investment in oru colleges and universities, but we can take steps on our own to move forward as well.

If you are concerned about the future of the college, please send me your questions and comments. If you have concerns about how the proposed cuts to higher education impact Metro’s plan to move forward, I encourage you to comment here. This site is intended to be a place for discussion. 

I will post updates as they come.

-Jack

The ballot language is below:

Should a new student capital fee be established in fall 2009 to generate the necessary revenue to:

1. Establish a permanent debt service fund to pledge toward capital construction financing
2. Establish a permanent scholarship and grant fund
3. Establish a permanent fund for equipment and classroom enhancement

The debt service portion will provide capital construction financing for the construction of a new Metro State College neighborhood building. The balance of the student capital fee will be placed in restricted funds to be used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the table below.

This per-credit-hour fee will be assessed up to 12 credit hours. No additional fee is assessed to students taking in excess of 12 credit hours. Student approval necessary to increase fee above proposed rate.

PROPOSED STUDENT CAPITAL FEE
No additional fee will be assessed for students taking in excess of 12 credit hours
Maximum fee, student approval is necessary to raise the fee above the proposed rates