Southeastern NEWS
                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504-549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           
    Date: 7/20/01
      Contact:                           Rene Abadie     1  

SOUTHEASTERN TO IMPLEMENT UTILITY SURCHARGE

     HAMMOND -- Full time Southeastern students will be assessed a $30 per semester surcharge
to help pay for the university's increasing utility costs.
     The surcharge, which will be prorated for students taking less than 12 hours, is effective for
the fall 2001 semester.  
     "During the last fiscal year, utility costs increased approximately $30 million for all state
colleges and universities in Louisiana," said Stephen Smith, vice president for administration and
finance. "At Southeastern, our utility costs increased more than $1 million in the past year, in
spite of an aggressive energy conservation program that we implemented. The surcharge will
assist the university in funding a portion of this increase."
     He said the Louisiana Board of Regents in July authorized institutions through their
management boards to assess the surcharge to help offset the increased costs. The surcharge will
range from $26 to $62 for the various higher education institutions across the state. The plan was
supported by the Council of Student Body Presidents from state higher education institutions.
     Smith added that the funds collected through the surcharge are restricted to pay only increased
utility costs, and that the fee will be reviewed annually. "The annual review may allow us to
either reduce the surcharge or eliminate it completely once the financial crisis caused by utility
increases has subsided," he said.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsm01.htm