Once again, tuition is up, but only by 4.8 percent this year, less than last year’s nearly 10-percent increase.

Al Hooten, UTM Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, said this year’s tuition increase, about $86 for students paying in-state tuition, is because of a number of factors.

“[Tuition increased] this year primarily due to the enrollment increase. Also, we added 8 new faculty this year,” Hooten said.

Hooten also said a mandated faculty salary increase, library inflation and other maintenance-related issues were factors in the increase. Hooten added the utilities bill for UTM is over $300,000.

Hooten dismissed rumors that the tuition hike is in some way related to the increase in the Tennessee Lottery Scholarship program.

“The scholarship goes to the students, not the university. So if there’s any extra money, it goes to the student,” said Hooten.

In fact, the tuition increase is not decided wholly by UTM officials. Instead, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee legislature, determines annual tuition rates at its summer meeting.

Hooten also urges students to apply for the e-refund, a newly available service to UTM students. Students can now register their bank accounts on Banner to have their refunds direct-deposited to the account of their choice. Ideally, this will cut down on time wasted standing in line, Hooten said. Students can access the service by logging in to their Banner accounts, clicking on “Personal Information” and then “Online Payment Options.”

Hooten also said the university’s financial solvency has been further secured through budget actions to accommodate an increasing student body.

“It was a good year budgetarily-wise. [The tuition increase] gives us an opportunity to add faculty in some critical areas that have seen growth,” said Hooten.

Katherine Wicker, a freshman psychology major does not agree with tuition increase, however.

“It sucks because I’m having to pay for everything and I still haven’t got all my books yet. It’s harder,” Wicker said.