After two years with no tuition increases for in-state students, Coastal Carolina University's board of trustees approved a nominal increase at its quarterly meeting today.

"Our board and administration have worked diligently to keep tuition costs down, but in order to maintain the quality education our students and their parents have come to expect, we find it necessary to impose a nominal increase for the first time since Fall 2011," said CCU President David A. DeCenzo.

In-state undergraduate tuition will increase by 2.89 percent, an addition of $140 per semester. Out-of-state undergraduate tuition will increase by 2.96 percent, an addition of $335 per semester. Housing fees will increase by 5.5 percent to 5.7 percent, depending on the type of amenities provided in specific campus residence facilities.

CCU's meal plan will go from a single rate to a tiered-rate structure. The cost of an unlimited meal plan will increase by $90 per semester; the cost of the limited meal plan will decrease by $110 per semester.

The board approved a tuition reduction for students who teach at school districts within the immediate region pursuing the Specialist in Educational Leadership (Ed.S.) degree.

The board approved two new degree programs, a Master of Education in Special Education and a Master of Science in Information Security and Analytics. Pending approval by the S.C. Commission on Higher Education, the degrees will be offered in the Fall 2015 semester.

Four property leases were renewed or adopted by the board. A lease extension agreement for office and dock space in Georgetown was approved. Lease renewals were approved for classroom space at Litchfield Landing and at Horry Georgetown Technical College's Grand Strand campus, as well as a lease to Winthrop University for the Small Business Development Center.

The board approved promotions for faculty members P. Jay Zeltner and Dale Quinn to the position of senior lecturer.