News
Tuition, Fee Increases To Be Discussed at OU Board Of Trustees
By: WOUB Staff reports
Posted on:
ATHENS (WOUB) — An 3.5-percent increase in tuition at all Ohio University campuses will be discussed at the next Board of Trustees meeting, along with housing and culinary services increases.
The full board is set to meet January 18 on the Athens campus of OU, but committee meetings are also happening the day before. In a release sent Tuesday afternoon, the university spelled out their agenda for the two days.
The tuition increases are being debated by the Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee. The 3.5-percent increase in tuition is being proposed in accordance with Ohio Revised Code, which sets allowable increases of tuition, fees and rates based on the rate of inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index. This is then combined with a percentage increase allowed by the General Assembly, according to the press release.
“The administration’s recommendation assumes a 2 percent limitation on such increases will be authorized by the General Assembly before July 1, 2019,” the release stated.
Also being considered is a 3.5-percent increase in Athens housing rates, as well as a 2 percent increase in main campus Culinary Services rates and increases in fees for services optional to students.
The Student Legal Service fee would go from $12 to $15 per student, if approved, and charges for elective courses would also increase.
“In both cases, the fees collected would be passed on to third party vendors,” according to the release.
The committee will also discuss capital projects, some of which have already been approved for funding. New capital projects include $56 million for construction of an “academic replacement space” for the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. The facility will be a three-story building on Union Street, and is expected to be complete in 2021.
A budget amendment for the Chilled Water Plant is also on the table at the committee meeting. The proposed amendment adds $725,000 to an already approved $30.85 million, allowing for changed to the design of the plant. Amendments to projects involving The Ridges and Konneker Alumni Center are also on the agenda.
The full board will meet in regular session at 9:45 a.m. in Walter Hall on January 18. The Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee meets January 17 at 1:45 p.m., in Walter Hall. Other committees meeting on January 17 include the Academics and Student Success Committee (10:15 a.m.) and the Governance and Compensation Committee (8:30 a.m.).