During the June 13 board of trustees meeting, UNA approved an increase in tuition rates for the 2016-2017 school year.

In addition, the executive committee moved for a smoke free campus by fall 2017, and Trustees carried a motion for the purchase of a two-story Victorian home at 629 N. Wood Ave.

“We’re asking for a 3.9 percent tuition increase, and our budget is based on a 3.1 percent enrollment increase,” said Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs Clinton Carter.

That means tuition will cost an additional $10 per credit hour, making the new rate $264 per credit hour for undergraduate students, due to a decrease in state funding.

The motion carried, and even with this increase, tuition and fees for UNA still remain lower than the median rate among other universities in the state of Alabama.

The executive council also recommended UNA move toward becoming a smoke-free campus, effective fall 2017, and the board approved.

During the fall 2016 and spring 2017 transition year, the university will restrict smoking to designated outdoor areas. An educational program dedicated to quitting smoking will be available in preparation for the policy coming in fall 2017.

The board of trustees carried a motion for the purchase of the property and historic home at 629 N. Wood Ave.

“We looked at it twice before,” Carter said. “Once about 15 years ago (and) once about five years ago when it sold previously. We were interested, but for some reason didn’t pull the trigger.”

This home will provide additional office and parking spaces as UNA continues to expand.