The Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents has approved a $151 million budget for the 2002-03 academic year.

Speaking at the Board's June 17 meeting, EKU President Joanne Glasser said the $151,871,053 budget achieved three goals: no layoffs, maintenance of health benefits and an across-the-board raise (an average 2.7 percent increase in employee salaries).

The across-the-board salary adjustment "is important to both protect the purchasing power of our continuing faculty and staff and to help keep the University competitive in the marketplace," Glasser said.

Employee benefit funding, primarily health insurance and worker's compensation, were increased by more than $1 million. "We can proudly say that we have maintained our level of employee benefits," Glasser said.

A $750,000 fund was established to "protect our ability to respond to new opportunities," Glasser said. "This fund will be held as an additional contingency until state revenue and fall enrollment estimates are confirmed."

Also, increases in University-funded scholarships totaled approximately $586,000 to "help maintain our ability to recruit the best and brightest students to our campus."

The new budget reflects a 1.87 percent decrease in general state appropriations and a 9.5 percent increase in tuition rates.

Undergraduates who reside in Kentucky will pay $1,279 per semester, an increase of $111; non-resident undergraduates will pay $3,835 per semester, an increase of $333 per semester. Undergraduate students from targeted out-of-state counties will pay a reduced tuition of $2,107.

Kentucky graduate students will pay $1,399 per semester, an increase of $116, while non-resident graduate students will pay $4,198, up $349. Graduate students from targeted out-of-state counties will pay a reduced tuition of $2,308.

Student activity and technology fees remain at last year's levels. Residence hall rental rates will increase $15 to $50 per semester for double occupancy rooms and $25 to $60 for single occupancy rooms.

The Regents also approved a 9.6 percent tuition increase for K-12 students at Model Laboratory School. Tuition for 2002-03 will be $444 per semester. Pre-K tuition will increase 9.5 percent to $876 per semester.