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Contacts:
Di Saunders, OUS: 503-725-5714; Cell: 503-807-5539 Board of Higher Ed Approves '03-'04 Tuition Rates, Increases
Campus Aid for Lowest Income Oregonians PORTLAND, April 18 - The State Board of Higher Education (the "Board") approved tuition rates for all Oregon University System (OUS) campuses, increased institutional aid for low-income Oregonians, and discussed how
the System will address access and quality in light of
diminishing state support, among other items approved or reviewed at
its two-day meeting at Western Oregon University on April 17 and 18. Tuition Rates The Board today approved tuition rates for the Fall 2003-04 and 2004-05 academic years, which vary by institution. In developing tuition proposals, campuses had to evaluate their financial conditions considering many factors: impacts on students, current biennium General Fund reductions already taken by institutions, expected enrollment growth, the ability to support low-income students with tuition discounts, and the likelihood of significant cuts to campuses in the 2003-05 biennium. "OUS is assuming a General Fund reduction for 2003-05 of up to 10%, which will mean state funding lost for more than 12,000 students," said Tom
Anderes, senior vice chancellor for finance and administration at
OUS. Board president, Jim Lussier, said, "In this type of economy, tuition increases at any level will certainly impact the plans and choices
of students and families over the next few years. Given the
anticipated decreases in state appropriations for 2003-05, campuses
will have to rely more heavily on tuition to cover instructional and
other costs, while unfortunately, facing the likelihood of cutting
staff, courses and class sections, and making tough choices about
top priorities," added Lussier.
Tuition increases approved for 2003-04 average 3.3% or $107 across the System over the prior year; and increases approved for 2004-05 average 8.8% or $291 over the prior year (2003-04) rates. For resident undergraduates increases for 2003-04 will be 3.2% at Eastern Oregon University (to $3,102); 3.3% at Oregon Institute of Technology (to $3,333); 4% at Oregon State University (to $3,492); 0% at Portland State University ($3,240); 3.4% at Southern Oregon University (to $3,138); 2% at University of Oregon (to $3,540); and 8% at Western Oregon University (to $3,240). Resident graduate students will see 2003-04 tuition increases ranging from 3.3% at OIT to 15.6% at EOU. Non-resident undergraduates tuition increases for 2003-04 range from 0.6% at OIT and UO to 14.1% at OSU. Non-resident graduate student increases for 2003-04 range from 0.2% at UO to 30.4% at EOU (also see third-page attachment for more details).
"Campuses
are also considering alternative ranges to the tuition plateau,"
said Richard Jarvis, chancellor of the Oregon University System.
"While historically, students have paid the same rate regardless
of when they attend classes, the University of Oregon, for example,
has adopted lower tuition rates for students who attend during
periods of lower use. These types of innovative approaches to
keeping tuition levels down will also reduce class size at peak
times, and fully utilize facilities during evening hours," noted
Jarvis. Tuition
Remissions
Also approved today was a change in OUS's 2003-05 budget
reduction plan for fee remissions, which provide a tuition discount
to low-income students. The Board proposes that fee remissions
remain at $830,000 for the 2003-05 biennium, versus being cut by
50%. "The reduction in this type of financial support for
low-income students during a period of increasing tuition and
decreasing state grant aid is counterproductive to the System's
goals of inclusion and access for all Oregonians," stated Jarvis.
Each campus is also setting aside additional funds for fee
remissions, ranging from approximately 7% to 17% of total tuition
revenues. Quality,
Access and Affordability
The Board discussed the relationship between
quality, access and affordability at System campuses, with the goal
of committing to a policy position that links enrollment with
per-student state support. "In times of shrinking state resources,
maintaining full access without the requisite state funding puts
instructional and other quality indicators at risk," said Roger
Bassett, chair of the Board's System Strategic Planning Committee.
He noted that the State Board of Education, which oversees the K-14
System, expressed its convergence with this policy at the Joint
Boards Working Group earlier this week. "Supporting unfunded
students means that available resources are stretched thinner,
leading to class, course, program and faculty cuts," Bassett
added. "For students already enrolled, this can mean a longer time
to graduation, and thus higher college costs, higher student loan
debt, and income lost with delay in entering the workplace. There
are no good choices in this economic vice grip that Oregon is
struggling with right now," said Bassett. Members agreed that
funding per-student at OUS institutions cannot be further eroded or
students and educational delivery will be significantly harmed.
Oregon University System (OUS) comprises seven distinguished public universities, reaching more than one million people each year through on-campus classes, statewide public services and lifelong learning. The Oregon State Board of Higher Education, the statutory governing board of OUS, is composed of eleven members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon State Senate. For additional information, go to www.ous.edu -OUS- |