Mercer University’s Board of Trustees, meeting on the Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta, today adopted a record $308.8 million operating budget for 2024-25, exclusive of more than $45 million in federal research grants, approved two new graduate degree programs, and held a dedication ceremony for the new Tony and Nancy Moye Pharmacy and Health Sciences Center.

Continuing more than a decade of below-market annual tuition increases, trustees voted to limit the tuition increase for Macon undergraduate programs to 3.5% for 2024-25. Some programs, such as theology and certain graduate nursing tracks, will have no tuition increases for 2024-25. Law students will see a 2% increase next year and M.D. students in the School of Medicine will see a 3% increase. Tuition increases for most other programs range from 3% to 4%.

Trustees approved a new Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology in the Tift College of Education and a new Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences in the School of Medicine.

The M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology will be a fully online program with applications in a variety of training settings, in corporate environments and a wide array of teaching and learning contexts. It will be offered beginning in spring 2025.

The Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences will be offered beginning in fall 2024 on all three School of Medicine campuses in Macon, Savannah and Columbus. The program is designed to prepare professionals for jobs in academia or industry by providing broad scientific expertise. It focuses on integrative scientific study of biological issues related to health and medicine while promoting interdisciplinary research.

In addition to the two new graduate degrees, trustees approved a new major in health and physical education in the College of Education and a new major in world humanities in the College of Professional Advancement. Both new majors will be offered beginning next fall.

Following the board meeting, trustees and other guests participated in a formal dedication of the Tony and Nancy Moye Pharmacy and Health Sciences Center, a 65,000-square-foot building that houses learning, teaching and administrative space for the College of Pharmacy and other health sciences programs. Classes began in the new facility in January.