Gazette file photo Students cross Michigan Tech’s campus in this April 2022 photo. Tech's Board of Trustees will meet Friday.

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees is expected to approve the creation of a new school withing the College of Sciences and Arts at its regular meeting Friday. The board will vote on the creation of the School of Health, Human and Biological Systems within the CSA. to establish the School of Health, Human and Biological Systems. According to the Board of Trustees agenda, “The School of Health, Human, and Biological Systems would encompass the Departments of Biological Sciences, Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, and Psychology and Human Factors.” The school aligns with other initiatives at Michigan Tech, including the opening of the H-STEM building, construction of the donor funded Chang K. Park Center for Student Wellness, establishment of the Health Research Institute during the first round of Tech Forward initiatives, and the Tech Forward 2.0 initiatives.”

The meeting takes place at 9 a.m. Friday in Memorial Union Ballroom B starting at 9 a.m.

Friday’s meeting is the Trustees last of the 2025-26 academic year. The meeting traditionally is held prior to Spring Commencement. The Graduate School commencement will be held at 3 p.m. Friday while the undergraduate ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Both take place in the John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena of the Student Development Complex.

Many of the action items are related to end-of-year business, including faculty promotions, the approval of the budget and tuition rates.

The fiscal year 2027 general fund budget proposal recommends a tuition fee increase of 4.02 percent. First and second-year students’ tuition could be raised by $788 for Tier 3 (Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Network and Systems Admin as well as Surveying majors) with 12-18 credit semesters per year. It is proposed to rise from $19,608 to $20,396. Third and fourth-year students could see their tuition raised by $958. Their tuition will go from $23,812 to $24,770.

The proposed rates per semester for Tier 1 (Business, Economics, Humanities, Mathematical Sciences, Social Sciences and Visual and Performing Arts) students who take 12 to 18 credit hours are $11,280 for Michigan residents and $24,636 for non-residents.

The proposed rates per semester for Tier 2 (Forest Resources, Environmental Science, Biological Science, Chemistry, Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Cognitive and Learning Sciences, Physics, Construction Management, Electrical Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology) students who take 12 to 18 credit hours are $11,519 for Michigan residents and $24,865 for non-residents.

Tier 3 students’ 12 to 18 credit semester tuition is proposed to be raised to $12,385 for Michigan residents and $25,862 for non-residents.

Last fiscal year, tuition was raised by 4.32 percent. This year’s proposed rates are a .30 percent dip from last year.

The Experience Tech Fee, is proposed to be raised by $8, from regardless of class standing. The Experience Tech fee complements the Student Activity Fee and provides students the opportunity to experience much more of Michigan Tech. Students have access to regularly scheduled theater; jazz, orchestra, wind symphony, pep band, and choir performances; cross-country and downhill skiing; hockey games; art gallery showings; snowboarding; year-round tennis; golfing at Portage Lake Golf Course; and Intramural sports.

The Student Activity Fee is not set to increase for next fiscal year’s tuition.

The approval of external auditor, Plante and Moran, PLLC, is another key item on the BOT’s April agenda. The external audit is set to take a look at federal awards and grants, general funding and financial statements, NCAA-mandated audits of intercollegiate athletics programs and participating in the State of Michigan Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The external audit is set to be completed prior to the 2026 fiscal year ending on June 30.

Another action item which are recommended to be approve by the BOT include establishing a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and an Associate of Science (AS) in General Studies.

The trustees are also expected to approve several promotion and tenure recommendations. The board will is act on granting professor emeritus rank to Jaroslaw W. Drelich, a Distinguished Professor and the Richard Witte Endowed Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.