The Coastal Carolina University Board of Trustees approved a $105 million operational budget for the 2006-2007 academic year at its quarterly meeting Friday. As part of the budget plan, the board approved a tuition increase, effective for fall 2006. In-state tuition will increase $320 per semester, from $3,430 to $3,750 per semester, an increase of 9.33 percent. Out-of-state tuition will increase $545 per semester, from $7,550 to $8,095, an increase of 7.22 percent. Room, board and health services fees are $3,345 per semester.

According to university officials, even with the increase Coastal's tuition is below the average for public institutions in South Carolina.

The board approved the formation of a Presidential Search Committee to serve the process of selecting a new chief executive for the university in 2007. Members of the committee are: William H. Alford, Larry Biddle, Fred F. DuBard Jr., David W. Evans, Samuel H. Frink, Charles J. Hodge, Danny Nicholson, Robert S. Shelton, Janet Shokal, Oran P. Smith, Julie M. Snowden and Sharon Thompson.

The board also approved recommendations for faculty promotions and tenure:

• Gib Darden has been promoted to professor of physical education with tenure.

• John Goodwin has been promoted to professor of chemistry with tenure.

• Elizabeth Keller has been promoted to professor of art with tenure.

• Rob Young has been promoted to professor of marine science with tenure.

• Sara Brailler has been promoted to associate professor of sociology with tenure.

• Sharon Gilman has been promoted to associate professor of biology with tenure.

• Jerome Christia has been promoted to associate professor of marketing with tenure.

• Robin Edwards-Russell has been promoted to associate professor of theater with tenure.

• Carol Osborne has been promoted to associate professor of education with tenure.

• Nancy Ratcliff has been promoted to associate professor of education with tenure.

• Jim Tully has been promoted to associate professor of music with tenure.

The board approved the following new faculty hires:

• Jeanne B. Cobb, chair of the Department of Elementary Education

• Richard Lawrence Johnson, chair of the Department of Music

• Pedro Maligo, chair of the Department of Foreign Languages

• William Harrison Richardson, dean of the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts