Staff Assembly recommends cuts
Tuition benefits still possible for dependents
By Meghan Youker
Staff Reporter

TCU employees whose dependents are not accepted to the university may still receive tuition benefits at community colleges if top administrators approve a recommendation made by the Staff Assembly Tuesday.

The proposal comes after the university’s retirement, insurance and benefits committee recommended cutting benefits for temporary employees and tuition benefits for dependents.

The recommendation originally eliminated full tuition benefits to attend another Texas college or university for dependents who were not accepted to TCU.

The Staff Assembly’s final recommendation to administrators stated students who are not accepted to TCU should be eligible to receive tuition benefits to attend Tarrant County College or their local community college for up to two years, and they may reapply annually to TCU for admission.

Darron Turner, director of Student Development Services, said the cuts could directly affect him because he has two children who will be in college in a couple of years, but he understands why cuts need to be made.

“If you are going to go home and complain about something, at least you can complain with a home and with a job,” Turner said.

The committee, in a similar recommendation following its meeting Friday, said dependent students not accepted to TCU should receive tuition benefits to a state-funded community college in the district where the employee resides.

The main difference in the suggestions is that the committee’s recommendation would not provide tuition benefits to students who attend community colleges outside of their county of residence, while the Staff Assembly’s recommendation would allow these students to receive benefits to Tarrant County College no matter where they reside.

There are 30 dependents who were not accepted to TCU that receive tuition benefits under the university’s current program, Turner said.

Before members of the Staff Assembly discussed their recommendation, Carol Campbell, vice chancellor for finance and administration, gave a presentation on the university’s financial situation.

Campbell said decreases in the value of the university’s endowment will create a deficit of about $5 million in the university’s budget. Campbell said the university has room to raise tuition, but other spending cuts need to be made.

Chancellor Victor Boschini said cuts are needed to ensure the university’s success.

“You can’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg,” Boschini said.

Campbell would not say specifically whether she supported the recommendations or not.

“I will be glad to bring the recommendations from this assembly and from the RIB committee forward,” Campbell said.

Boschini and other top administrators will make the final decision.