Education benefits, waivers for employees 'ingrained'

Kitani King, 20, saved $1,524, the cost of a full year of school, while majoring in nursing at the College of Eastern Utah. She is the daughter of Brad King, CEU's vice president of institutional advancement. Dad likes the benefit.

"It probably meant that she didn't have to work as much as she would have otherwise," King said. As someone who helps with hiring at CEU, he also said applicants are interested in the tuition benefit.

As the House Minority Whip, King, D-Price, said he hasn't heard in his eight years at the Capitol any legislators talking about making changes to tuition benefits for college employees.

For those working at Utah's 10 public colleges and universities, it will remain a deeply rooted benefit — at least as long as staff and particularly faculty are paid less than their peers in other states, which routinely lure professors away from Utah schools for higher salaries.

Bringing change to or doing away with tuition benefits could mean a huge impact on the quality of higher education in Utah, according to Kendell.

"I think that it would have quite a negative impact on the institutions' ability to attract and retain faculty," he said.

Employees at most Utah public institutions have already been asked to pay for part of their health-care benefits. Kendell said the Utah system will have to look elsewhere, other than to tuition benefits, to save money — and that's been happening.

There is a "major" study under way to save money on rising fuel and power costs. Health-care benefits are still under the fiscal magnifying glass.

More cost cutting has come via the Utah System of Higher Education, which now negotiates contracts for software packages used at state schools. In the wake of three years of unfunded enrollment growth, some schools are raising admission standards. Some schools are also relying more on less costly adjunct faculty to teach classes.

Benefit sampling at Utah schools

Sampling of tuition benefits at Utah schools (after certain eligibility requirements are met):

• University of Utah — 50 percent of tuition and fees for unmarried dependents under 26 years.

• Utah State University — 50 percent of tuition and 100 percent of fees for spouses and dependents of deceased employees.

• Weber State University — 100 percent of tuition and fees for retired faculty, staff and their spouses.

• Southern Utah University — 100 percent of tuition and fees (up to 3 credit hours) for adjunct faculty.

• Snow College — 100 percent of tuition and fees for full-time employees (up to 6 credit hours).

• Dixie State College — 100 percent of tuition for spouses and dependents of full-time employees.

• College of Eastern Utah — 100 percent tuition (up to 3 credit hours) for part-time employees.

• Utah Valley State College — 100 percent tuition and fees for hourly employees.

• Salt Lake Community College — 100 percent tuition and fees for employees.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com