At the Faculty Senate meeting on Tuesday, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon noted the need to increase available financial aid to students and allocate funds to update classroom and laboratory space.

During the presentation that outlined the preliminary budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the board proposed a pro-forma 4 percent increase to financial aid, down a half percent from the 2013-14 recommendation.

Simon did not stress a decrease in tuition, but rather suggested state appropriations, which are expected to increase, should go to updating classrooms and academic competitiveness.

Simon said this way students who “pay $13,000 a year are getting a world-class education.”

She also said MSU is planning on doing a capital campaign this coming fall to encourage donations to the university.

Also during the meeting, University Committee on Faculty Affairs Chairman William Donohue presented his committee’s recommendation for a 4 percent increase to the faculty general merit pool, which could raise faculty salary. The Faculty Senate approved the increase.

This was the last meeting of the Faculty Senate for the academic year.