Thursday, June 25, 2009
The struggle between shrinking state funds and tight family finances has been settled, and it’s students who will have to pay more next year.
Tuition is increasing $186 per 15-hour semester for in-state undergraduate students, from $3,520.85 to $3,706.85. Tuition for incoming in-state freshmen for a 15-hour semester will increase $240.75, from $3682.10 to $4,10285. This amount will remain fixed for four years, given that the freshmen are seeking their first degree at the University.
Out-of-state undergraduates will pay $489 more, from $8,559.35 to $9,048.35 for a 15-hour semester. Out-of-state freshmen will pay $633 more, from $9,454.10 to $10,087.10. These amounts do not include required campus fees.
The Board of Regents set the tuition increases because the state is cutting the Regents’ budget by 10 percent.
The Regents approved the increase Thursday morning in a 7-2 vote. Regents chairwoman Donna Shank and Regent Gary Sherrer voted not to increase tuition. The tuition increase that the Regents approved was one of two proposals the University submitted. Previously, the University proposed increases of $123.75 for in-state undergraduates and $206.25 for in-state incoming freshmen.
Interim provost Danny Anderson said the University submitted new proposals to accommodate future state budget cuts.
“We look at balancing what is the right amount and what we could be expecting,” Anderson said.
Sherrer, who voted down only the University’s proposal, said the University’s anticipation of more budget cuts was not playing smart politics.
“If you start raising tuition in anticipating possible cuts, then in my judgement that makes you a target for those who are making them,” Sherrer said.
Shank said she voted against increasing tuition for the University because it was more than she wanted to do.
She said she would have agreed to a 3 to 4 percent tuition increase for the University, but not the revised 6 and 7 percent increases proposed for undergraduates and freshmen.
Shank also voted against raising tuition for Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Wichita State University. She approved raising tuition rates for Kansas State University and Emporia State University.
Regent Christine Downey-Schmidt said she approved the revised increases because she thought the institutions needed them.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said the increase allowed the University to keep its promise of the four-tear tuition compact for incoming freshman, something he championed.
“There was an endorsement by the board of the tuition compact,” Hemenway said. “To incoming freshmen, it says your tuition is not going up any.”
— — Edited by Mike Bontrager
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Comments
ebhyde (Eric Hyde) says...
The KU administration I love raises tuition quite frequently and doesn't commit any of the tuition increase, not even 1 dollar for every credit hour, towards green energy. Greedy/rationalistic/bean counters.
June 28, 2009 at 7:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )