Tuition Policy Advisory Council
History
The Tuition Policy Advisory Council (TPAC) was appointed by President Gates in late Fall 2003 and met for the first time on January 22, 2004. Since then, the Council has met at least once each month, except during the summers. The Council consists of 15 regular members and 2 advisory members. The regular members include seven students, two faculty members, four administrators, the president of the Federation of Texas A&M University Mothers’ Clubs, and the president of the Association of Former Students. The Council consists of 15 members and 2 advisory members, including 7 students, 2 faculty members, 4 administrators, the president of the Federation of Texas A&M University Mothers’ Clubs, and the president of the Association of Former Students. A list of the names and contact information for each of the current members is available online.
In the initial meeting of TPAC, President Gates charged the Council to:
- advise the president on tuition policy that would provide incentives for students to graduate closer to four years than they currently do, and
- advise the president on tuition policy that would provide predictable revenues to the university, particularly in the area of legislative appropriations.
2004-2005 Academic Year
In March 2005, the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System approved a flat rate designated tuition and fee policy for Texas A&M University. The new flat rate policy went into effect beginning with the fall semester of 2005. You may read the text of the tuition policy online.
2005-2006 Academic Year
At the first meeting of TPAC for the 2005-2006 academic year, the president gave the Council two additional charges:
- consider differential tuition, particularly in the professional undergraduate majors, and advise the president on including differential tuition in the tuition policy, and
- review all requests for new and increased mandatory fees as part of the fee approval process.
The TPAC submitted recommendations for differential tuition policy and mandatory fee increases to the president on February 15, 2006, which he subsequently approved. You may read the approved TPAC recommendation online.
2006-2007 Academic Year
The Tuition Policy Advisory Council is continuing to consider undergraduate differential tuition and review new and increased mandatory fees. Additionally, TPAC is monitoring the utility fee to ensure it is accurately aligned with the University’s utility costs.
TPAC deliberated undergraduate, non-resident designated tuition and provided recommendations to the president. The recommendations were approved. You may read the undergraduate, non-resident designated tuition policy online.
