Trustees at Elon University have approved a 2003-2004 budget that calls for major new investments in programs, facilities and personnel. Among the new initiatives are upgrades in residence halls, increased spending on library and technology resources and 15 new full-time faculty positions.
“Elon continues to enjoy tremendous momentum,” says Leo M. Lambert, Elon University president. “Next year’s budget will allow us to keep tuition, room and board costs well below the national and regional averages while making significant improvements in academic programs and services for students.”
The residence hall upgrades include a four-year, $4 million project to air-condition 11 residence halls. In addition, card swipe security devices will be installed on the doors of all residence halls with common hallways, and a dedicated annual renewal and replacement budget will be created to upgrade furniture, carpeting and wireless computer access in all residence halls over a period of years.
Fifteen new faculty positions will be added for the 2003-2004 academic year, including eight in Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; three in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; and three in the School of Communications. Elon has added 65 full-time faculty positions over the past six years. For the fifth straight year, Elon is increasing funding for electronic journals, databases, books and periodicals for Belk Library. Budgets are also being increased to ensure that computers, software and other technology remain up to date.
With a 2003-2004 tuition of $16,325, Elon’s tuition rate will be more than $3,000 lower than the average for other private schools in the U.S. News & World Report top 10 Southern universities ranking. Elon’s total cost is nearly 20 percent below the national private college average, 25 percent below the middle states region, 35 percent below New England and 6 percent below the Southern region.