The Coastal Carolina University Board of Trustees approved a $95.2 million budget for the 2005-2006 academic year at its quarterly meeting today. State appropriations are projected to comprise approximately 13 percent of total revenue. As part of the budget plan, the board approved a tuition increase, effective for fall 2005. In-state tuition will increase $380 per semester, from $3,050 to $3,430 per semester, an increase of 12.46 percent. Out-of-state tuition will increase $395 per semester, from $7,100 to $7,550, an increase of 6.34 percent.

A 5.19 percent increase in room, board and health service fees was approved by the board, from $2,985 to $3,140 per semester. The Master Plan for the university was accepted by the board. An ambitious plan of growth for the institution, the master plan anticipates the future needs of the university and provides a blueprint for growth that embraces the total campus environment.

The board also recommended three new programs be added to Coastal's academic offerings: a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation and sport management, a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications, and a Master of Business Administration degree. These programs must be approved by the S.C. Commission on Higher Education.

The board approved Charles W. Gidney, associate professor of foreign languages, as Emeritus Professor. Gidney has been teaching French at Coastal since 1977. He was chair of the Department of Foreign Languages from 1987 to 1993 and faculty adviser for that department's honor society from 1982 to 1987.

Also the board approved recommendations by the administration for faculty promotions and tenure:

- Charles Wright has been promoted to professor of art studio.

- Dan Abel has been promoted to associate professor of marine science with tenure.

- Lee Bollinger has been promoted to associate professor of English and journalism with tenure.

- Elsa Crites has been promoted to associate professor of foreign languages with tenure.

- Var Limpasuvan has been promoted to associate professor of physics with tenure.

- John Navin has been promoted to associate professor of history with tenure.

- Micheline Brown has been promoted to associate librarian with tenure.

- Michael Ruse has been promoted to associate professor of philosophy.

- Christopher Hill was been promoted to associate professor of biology with tenure.

The board also approved tenure for two professors, Steven Bleicher, who will be chair of the Department of Visual Arts in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts, and Mark A. Mitchell, who will chair the Department of Management, Marketing and Law in the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration. Both appointments begin Aug. 16.