Starting from a Fake University-Chapter 161 - 155: Increase in Tuition, Collecting Money (Part 1)_1

Chapter 161: Chapter 155: Increase in Tuition, Collecting Money (Part 1)_1

Was the last time Ding Yue had a conversation with Director Jiang Xiuli of the Arts Department when Lin Zhirou was participating in the National College Student Art Festival Music Competition?

She unexpectedly came to his office this time.

"Director Jiang, what can I do for you?"

Ding Yue looked at Jiang Xiuli, asking in puzzlement.

Busy department heads like Jiang Xiuli would definitely not come to him without reason. frёewebnoѵēl.com

Just like the last time when Zhu Youzhao from the Film and Television Academy came to see him.

"President Ding, there’s something about our Arts Department I’d like to discuss with you," Jiang Xiuli said seriously after sitting on the sofa.

"Go ahead."

"Here’s the thing. Ever since Lin Zhirou’s ’Confession Balloon’ officially went on sale and became a hit on May 20th, our school’s Arts Department has gotten a lot of attention. My office phone has been ringing off the hook these past few days."

"What? Are people causing trouble?"

The first thing Ding Yue thought of after hearing this was that someone might be stirring up trouble on purpose?

"No, President Ding, that’s not it. These calls are from many students who are about to take the College Entrance Examination this year, as well as some previous graduates, calling to ask whether our Arts Department at Mist City Arts and Science University will admit students this year and if so, how many."

Jiang Xiuli quickly shook her head and explained.

"Oh, that issue. Yes, we’re admitting students. However many come, we’ll admit that many," Ding Yue spread his hands and said.

He doesn’t have to worry about insufficient dormitory space in the school now.

There are currently twelve apartment dormitory buildings under construction in the school.

In a modern university, a single dormitory building can accommodate at least two to three thousand students. If it’s a four-person or six-person dorm room, then one dormitory building could even house five thousand students.

There are also two apartment buildings on top of that.

Ding Yue initially estimated that after the school’s first phase of expansion was completed, the total accommodation capacity of the old and new apartment dormitories would be at least seventy thousand people.

How many students can the Arts Department admit as much as they want?

If they admit ten times more than last year, that would be a little more than a thousand students.

Admitting one student equates to several tens of thousands of yuan.

"That’s not a problem, but President Ding, our teaching resources in the Arts Department are limited. If we have open admissions this year, should we consider the issue of tuition fees? After all, we’re the Arts Department, different from other general departments."

Jiang Xiuli brought up this suggestion from the teachers of the Arts Department.

Of course.

Jiang Xiuli also supports the idea of separately charging tuition fees for the Arts Department, not uniformly charging 25,000 yuan per year like they did last year.

"Is Director Jiang suggesting that we raise the tuition fees of the Arts Department?"

Ding Yue furrowed his brows slightly when hearing this.

Upon further consideration, it seemed that Director Jiang Xiuli had a point. The increase in student numbers would inevitably require larger educational resources allocated into the Arts Department.

Therefore, it wouldn’t be a problem to increase the tuition accordingly, right?

At 25,000 yuan per academic year, the tuition at an ordinary private university is indeed not high. In fact, many private universities charge much more — their fees are simply exorbitant!

In addition, the Arts Department is indeed a special department. It is quite normal to separately set tuition fees.

"Then, Director Jiang, since we are going to increase the tuition fees of the Arts Department, you have to also improve the teaching level of the department accordingly. Work closely with the administration to implement teacher recruitment."

Ding Yue agreed with Director Jiang Xiuli’s suggestion.

But the premise of raising tuition is that the Arts Department must elevate the corresponding faculty strength.

"Okay, President Ding. I’ll communicate with the administration and personnel about expanding the teaching staff. We’ll definitely finish it before the start of the new year. So, President Ding, how much should we charge for tuition in the Arts Department in the new academic year?"

Jiang Xiuli asked again.

"We can’t charge too much." After thinking for a moment, Ding Yue first shook his head and said, "Our Arts Department has gained a significant reputation thanks to Lin Zhirou’s success. But you, Director Jiang, should also be aware that there’s still a gap between our Arts Department and those professional art schools."

"Yes, President Ding, I understand. Why don’t we increase it by 10,000 yuan based on the original tuition fee?"

Jiang Xiuli nodded and suggested.

"Three thousand five hundred yuan for Arts Department students. Hmm, that sounds about right. Let’s settle on that." Ding Yue felt that an increase of 10,000 yuan was within a reasonable range.

After all, it is the Arts Department.

"Then, President Ding, I’ll handle this matter right away." After Jiang Xiuli finished speaking, she stood up.

After leaving the principal’s office, she was busy with the expansion of the faculty in the Arts Department and the new tuition standard.

Ding Yue has also considered before that as a private university, Mist City Arts and Science University can’t possibly charge the same tuition fee of 25,000 yuan per academic year for all majors.

After all, the investment in some majors would indeed be higher, and the tuition will naturally increase once some majors become key development specialties in the school.

But Ding Yue did not expect the first one to raise tuition fees would be the Arts Department, and even took advantage of the opportunity when Lin Zhirou’s song became a major hit.

In fact, Ding Yue knew why Director Jiang Xiuli and the teachers in the Arts Department were in favor of raising tuition fees.

That’s because when the Arts Department increases the tuition fees, they, as the "old-timers" who joined the Arts Department in the first academic year, will certainly see a corresponding increase in their benefits from the school.

This point is indeed true.

After the Arts Department raises its fees and admits the second-year freshmen, Ding Yue will give Director Jiang Xiuli a raise.

However.

These days, Principal Ding Yue’s primary focus was not the Art Department.

It was about the upcoming National Robotics Competition and National Science and Technology Innovation Exhibition.

May 28th.

There were less than two days left before the kickoff of the National Robotics Competition and National Science and Technology Innovation Exhibition.

Mist City Arts and Science University had already received a notice from the organizing committee after registering, instructing its competition team to participate in time.

As for the National Science and Technology Innovation Exhibition, it was being held alongside the National Robotics Competition, so by participating in the competition, one could also appear at the exhibition.

In the afternoon.

After finishing her class, Wen Ruohan came to Principal Ding’s office, ready to serve him at a moment’s notice.

"Wen Ruohan, there are two days to go before the National Robotics Competition and National Science and Technology Innovation Exhibition. Please confirm with the Mechanical and Computer Departments the number of people who will go to Shu City, and then prepare to book flights and hotels."

Ding Yue told Wen Ruohan to prepare in advance, it’s not right to make a last-minute dash.

"Yes, sir."

Having received the task from Principal Ding, Wen went cheerfully about her work.

She first went to the Computer Department, counted the number of people going to Shu City in the Computer Department, and including Director Xu Bin and the department director, there were six in total, with the remaining four being one professor and three students.

They were all members of the team involved in developing Big White Robot’s microchip.

"Computer Department, six."

After Wen Ruohan confirmed with Dean Liu Wei of the Computer Department, she quickly recorded the information in her notebook.

Then Wen Ruohan made another trip to Mechanical Engineering Department.

This time, the members of the Mechanical Department who were going to attend the National Robotics Competition with Principal Ding were Dean Cao Guowei.

And there were three students: Tong Yihang, Liu Tiefei, and Yang Jie of the Mechanical Engineering and Automation major, as well as Professor Li Shengbin.

That made a total of five people.

"Mechanical Department, five."

Wen Ruohan quickly wrote down.

That made eleven people here.

And Director Huang Youjie too.

Because Director Huang Youjie was also involved in the Big White Robot project; his major is Law, and he compiled the ’Comprehensive Legal Solutions’ for Big White.

"Plus Director Huang, twelve people. Plus Principal Ding and me, that’s fourteen."

After Wen Ruohan had tallied the number of people preparing to go to Shu City to participate in the National Robotics Competition and the National Science and Technology Innovation Exhibition, she began to book flights and hotels.

Booking flights and hotels is one of the secretary’s most frequent tasks.

Luckily, the flights from Mist City to Shu City were easily available these days, Wen Ruohan managed to book fourteen flight tickets all on the same flight.

Principal Ding must be in first class.

Then there were Director Huang and Director Xu, they needed business class; the remaining students could be in economy class.

"Done!"

With a few hours gone, Wen Ruohan finally booked the flights and the hotels.

Then she went to report flight and hotel reservation situation to Principal Ding.

"Wen Ruohan, please create a group for all of us who are going to Shu City with me to participate in the National Robotics Competition and the National Science and Technology Innovation Exhibition, so that things can be announced."

"Okay, Principal Ding."

Wen Ruohan immediately ran to add everyone on Whatsapp, then created a group with over a dozen people and mentioned the booked flight and hotel information.

The flight time is at 11 o’clock on the morning of May 29th.

That is to say, everyone needs to get up early on May 29, eat breakfast, and head to the airport.

Wait a second.

Isn’t May 29th tomorrow?

Wen Ruohan checked the time, and before she knew it, it was already evening. She hurried to the second cafeteria for dinner, then went back to her dormitory to rest early.

Early the next morning.

Principal Ding Yue got up early, woke up Huang and Bin, and the three of them went to the second cafeteria for breakfast.

The travel arrangements were basically sorted out by Secretary Wen Ruohan anyway.

Since there were a total of fourteen people going to Shu City this time, Ding Yue couldn’t drive his own Audi A8, even with Huang and Bin’s cars, it was not enough to carry all of them.

So Ding Yue asked Wen Ruohan to arrange with logistics to have a school bus to take everyone to Mist City Airport.

In the second cafeteria, Ding Yue saw Tong Yihang and Liu Tiefei come for breakfast.

So were several student and faculty from the Computer Department like Chen Jun.

Aside from the students who were about to go to Shu City, there were also other early risers in the cafeteria for breakfast.

After seeing Principal Ding and Director Xu, these students all wished, "Principal Ding, make sure you bring back a big prize."

"Principal Ding, our Mist City Arts and Science University is the best!"