The Board of Trustees will vote on a tuition increase today for the 2012-2013 school year that is considerably less than previous years, President Bill Perry said.  

The board will also vote on an expenditure of  $367,340 to replace a device damaged during the vandalism to the chemistry labs that occurred during Thanksgiving break. 

The amount of the tuition increase will be presented at the meeting at 1 p.m. in the University Ballroom at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. 

Last year, the board approved a 5.9 percent increase for incoming students. 

The tuition for Illinois residents increased from $254 to $269, and the rate for non-resident students went from $762 to $807. The tuition rate will be locked in for students for four years. 

“We will know the exact tuition increase at the meeting,” Perry said. “We are very sensitive about the cost issue to students.”

The board will also vote on the purchase of a new high performance digital magnetic spectrometer along with accessories, which chemistry students and faculty use for research and teaching.

Bruker Biospin based in Billerica, Mass., is the sole provider named on the proposal because Eastern could save about $180,000 by purchasing the device from the company.

According to the board report, two probes used with the device, each worth $89,850, were not damaged during the vandalism so if Eastern bought the device from a different provider, the probes would have to be replaced. 

The board will also vote on fee increases. 

Perry said certain fees like the Campus Improvement Fee have built-in fee increases. The built-in increase is $2.50, which would raise the cost from $17 to $19.50. 

The Lantz-O’Brien Operations Bond-Revenue Fee has a built in increase of $0.50, which would raise the cost from $3 to $3.50. 

According to the report, the board will also:

•Vote on an annual contract for chemicals that maintain heating and cooling water systems throughout campus,

•Vote on a one-year contract renewal of telephone service provided by Consolidated Communications, Inc. in Mattoon,

•Hear a presentation from the Information Technology Systems and from the president of the EIU Annuitants Association, and

•Present honorary degrees and name university property. 

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].