The Ohio State Board of Trustees will vote on the proposed 9 percent tuition increase when they meet at 10:15 a.m. today at the Longaberger Alumni House.
“We want to be as fair as possible to current undergraduate students – those who had already made the decision to come here, those who were already here when we began implementing these tuition increases,” said Elizabeth Conlisk, spokeswoman for OSU.
OSU classifies its undergraduate students into three tiers, based on when they first enrolled at the university.
Tier one students are those who first enrolled at OSU prior to summer quarter 2002. Tuition for a continuing full-time student in this tier will increase 9 percent or $468, from $5,190 to $5,658. These total figures are for Ohio residents, based on a three-quarter, autumn through spring, full-time enrollment.
Students who first enrolled between summer quarter 2002 and spring quarter 2003 are tier-two students and will also have a 9 percent or $510 hike. Their tuition will go from $5,664 to $6,174.
“We made the commitment several years ago to not increase tuition to the undergraduate students who were here by more than 9 percent,” Conlisk said.
Tier-three students are those who first enroll for summer quarter 2003 or beyond. These students will pay the same as tier-two students plus $100 more per quarter, which will bring the total for a full-time student to $6,474.
Conlisk said Gov. Bob Taft has proposed a 9 percent tuition cap for OSU and a 6 percent cap for all other state institutions. The additional $300 OSU will charge incoming students is part of the proposal.
“Those universities that fall below the middle in terms of tuition are allowed to add an additional $300 per year,” Conlisk said.
OSU ranks eighth out of Ohio’s 13 public institutions in tuition prices.
“We are a unique combination of excellence and affordability,” Conlisk said.
The proposed tuition increase will be slightly softer on the regional campuses. Tuition will increase by 6 percent at all regional campuses, bringing the tuition for a full-time undergraduate from $4,527 to $4,800.
“We have said we would continue to keep costs low at the regional campuses because they are an access point for many students who do not initially get into the Columbus campus and for many who need the lower price point,” Conlisk said.
Since the state has not yet finalized its own budget, these tuition figures could change. These proposed increases are based on what the university thinks it will receive in funding from the state.
“We are proposing these tuition levels at a time of the greatest economic uncertainty the state has seen in 20 years,” Conlisk said.
OSU Provost Ed Ray will present the proposed tuition increases today, first to the fiscal affairs committee and then to the whole Board of Trustees. Ray refused to comment directly on what he would be presenting.
“I cannot comment on matters to be presented to the Board for consideration in advance of the Board meeting,” Ray said.
In addition to the tuition increases, the board will hear from Yuan Yuan, chairman and professor in the electrical engineering department. Yuan will give a presentation on Selective Investments.
Zheng’s department has been the recipient of one of these awards.
The Selective Investment initiative began in 1997. The program represents a shared financial commitment. Up to $1 million in continuing funding is dedicated to implementing the plan of each recipient, with half provided from central funds and matching funds from the college and department.
“The primary purpose of the award is to hire more faculty which is otherwise not possible,” Yuan said.
Yuan’s PowerPoint presentation to the board will highlight the progress his department has made, where it ranks among similar programs and where the future is taking it.
