EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the correct cost of tuition, as well as room and board, at Hannibal-LaGrange University.
HANNIBAL – Trustees for Hannibal-LaGrange University, meeting Oct. 13-14, made two decisions regarding retention issues – one to retain students, and one to retain President Anthony Allen.
At a time when many universities have hiked tuition, the HLGU trustees agreed not to raise the tuition for the 2016-2017 school year. Fees will also remain the same. However, room and board will include a $500 increase to bring that amount to $8,108. The tuition will remain at $20,610.
Trustees chairman Glenn Miller said the proposal came from the HLGU cabinet.
“It speaks of recruiting and retention. We’re going to do all we can to make the price structure work. It’s not without risk, but we want to be able to attract more students,” Miller said.
“It’s an important consideration for the families and students we serve. We want them to have affordable quality Christian higher education,” Allen said.
In the matter of retaining the president, the trustees began considering renewing the contract with two, or five years extension options, before removing the extension option to allow Dr. Allen’s contract to be long term, open ended.
The vote to retain Allen indefinitely was unanimous, save one abstention.
“That was a great goodwill gesture of the board. We have a lot of opportunities for us and I look forward to a long working relationship,” Allen said.
Trustees also added a new major to the ADVANCE program for HLGU adult degree completion program. It is Christian Studies with a concentration in Christian Ministry available as a B.S. and B.A.S.
Miles Mullin, the HLGU vice president for Academic Administration, said this 18-month program would work well for working adults, especially for those with some credits already. The program will be available for on campus and online students.
The board approved expanding the Jefferson City site offerings for the adult degree completion in Business Management, Criminal Justice, and Christian Studies with a concentration in Christian Ministry. The University now needs approval from the Higher Learning Commission for accreditation.
In other action, the trustees:
- Made nominations for the HLGU faculty service award, to be given at commencement.
- Discussed, but took no action, on a possible new financial campaign.
- Discussed adding fire alarms to two student-housing units.