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OU Trustees Approve Tuition Increases For Next Academic Year
By: Atish Baidya, Michael Locklear, Taylor Mirfendereski
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UPDATE 4/19/13, 6:32 PM: Ohio University trustees have approved an undergraduate tuition increase for the upcoming academic year.
The Board of Trustees met Friday at Ohio University's Athens campus.
The 1.6 percent increase to instructional and general fees means an additional $82 per semester for a full-time resident undergraduate student.
The board also approved a 5 percent increase to the instructional fee and non-resident surcharge for students at the Heritage College of Medicine.
Lower division students attending the regional campuses will soon see a 2 percent increase while upper division students will see a .8 percent increase to tuition.
The board also approved a 3.5 percent increase to room and board fees, a .5 percent increase to meal plans, and to maintain the Athens campus graduate tuition and fees and nonresident surcharge fees at Fiscal Year 2009 rates.
Also at the meeting Friday, the board authorized the president to create and appoint members to a Ridges Advisory Committee, which is expected to consist of members from the university, The City of Athens, Athens County and township leaders and citizens. The group will provide input on the Comprehensive Land Use Plan for The Ridges.
Trustees also accepted gifts of land near the Proctorville Center at the Southern campus. That property will be used as recreation space for students and the community. The land could also be used for future expansion.
They also elected leaders for next year's board. Current vice chair Sandra Anderson will replace the retiring Gene Harris as chair. David Brightbill will become vice chair of the Board of Trustees.
Ohio University is seeking a tuition increase for the upcoming academic year as it also considers a possible fundamental change the tuition model for future students.
In a presentation to the Board of Trustees on Thursday, Steven Golding, vice-president of finance and administration said the university is proposing a 1.6 percent increase to undergraduate tuition for students on the Athens campus.
The increase would mean an additional $82 per semester for a full-time resident undergraduate.
Administrators also want a 5 percent increase to instructional and general fees and the non-resident surcharge for students at the Heritage College of Medicine.
Lower division students attending the regional campuses could see a 2 percent increase while upper division students would see a .8 percent increase to tuition.
Room and board fees would be increased by 3.5 percent.
Meal plans would be increased by half a percent.
Graduate tuition and non-resident fees would not be increased.
The proposed increases come amid efforts by the university to balance efforts to maintain affordability and accessibility, infrastructure improvements and recruitment and retention of students and faculty in an economic and political climate that has resulted in a decline in state funding.
As part of a strategic plan to rely less on state funding administrators finally unveiled a proposed tuition guarantee model to the board.
Under the possible model incoming first-time students attending full-time would pay a single fixed rate for tuition and fees, room and board and most course fees.
The fixed rate would be for 10 semesters and cover degree-and licensure seeking undergraduates.
The Board of Trustees would set a new rate each year for the incoming cohort of students.
Ohio University Provost Pam Benoit said the tuition guarantee program could go into effect as early as fall of 2015 if the plan is approved by state lawmakers and the Trustees.
Trustees will vote on the upcoming budget during their June meeting.