For the first time tuition and fees paid by students will account for more than half of the operating budget this year for Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, according to a chart released this week by the ASU Office of Budget Planning Development. That development comes in spite of the fact that ASU didn’t have a tuition increase last year (but did impose a 4 percent hike this fall).

The reason is that state appropriations are declining. For the 2009-10 fiscal year, which ended June 30, state funding to ASU-Jonesboro totaled about $63.9 million, just under 51 percent of all operating revenue. But this year that total is estimated at just under $62.9 million, or 47.5 percent.

Considering that all revenues total more than $132 million, that’s a significant change in one year. And just a few years ago, 2006-07 to be exact, state funding accounted for 54.2 percent of the campus revenues.

State colleges and universities got a big bump in state revenues the next year, but then the recession hit. State budget cuts cost ASU-J about $2.2 million in anticipated funding last year.

That necessitated the latest tuition increase, as well as some hikes in fees. As a result, the total revenue from tuition and fees is expected to climb from about $59 million to about $66.3 million this year. Otherwise, total operating income would have been flat.

And yet, Arkansas’ system of higher education is still doing better than those in many other states, including next-door neighbor Tennessee. At least 43 states have cut assistance to public colleges and universities this year, most resulting in reductions in faculty and staff, the Center on Budget and Policy priorities has reported. That hasn’t happened here yet; in fact, ASU officials still have hopes of giving modest raises sometime this academic year.

Meanwhile, the search for a new president of the ASU system shifts into high gear. Having been surprised by Dr. Les Wyatt’s resignation in May, effective at the end of June, the Board of Trustees didn’t set up the search until nearly the end of July. Since then, the appointed advisory search committee has been playing catch-up in hopes of completing its work by the end of the calendar year.

Those alumni and friends who are interested in the search for a new chief executive of the university might want to check out the new Web site which went online Monday. You can find it at http://presidential search.asusystem.edu.

The Sun has reported most of the information there, but it’s interesting to see it all in one place, and the institutional profile is a good review for all of us, showing how valuable ASU is to Northeast Arkansas and the other communities where branch campuses are located. The next president will have complex and far-reaching responsibilities, and we all have a stake in finding the right person.

Here’s what the Web site says ASU is looking for:

“Arkansas State University seeks a system president who has impeccable integrity, strong ethical standards and core values, superb management and communication skills. The board is seeking an individual who is a proven, successful leader with experience in the academic arena, who is dedicated to academic excellence and quality in education, research and service. Candidates should also possess an understanding of the diverse missions of public higher education institutions and the ability to work with both internal and external constituency groups as an advocate for higher education. In addition, the characteristics desired in the next system president set out on the search Web site will be important factors in evaluating candidates.”

That’s not all. The Web site lists the characteristics desired — another 150 words or so — and a lengthy job description.

If ASU finds a man or woman who meets all the listed qualifications, the university may have located a strong candidate for the next president of the United States. But let’s keep that between us.

—Roy Ockert Jr.