DUBOIS — The Penn State U. Board of Trustees approved a 5.9 percent tuition hike on Friday and university officials say there is no end in sight for tuition increases.
Penn State President Graham Spanier said the administration’s plan is to “cope” with rising tuition costs, rather than try to eliminate the tuition increases.
The approved operating budget of more than $4 billion for the 2010-2011 fiscal year includes a 5.9 percent tuition increase for in-state University Park students and a 4.5 percent increase for out-of-state University Park students.
Students at the Commonwealth Campuses will face a 3.9 percent tuition increase. “Modest” faculty and staff pay increases of 2 percent will total $30.4 million and will be based on merit evaluations, Spanier said.
University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) President Christian Ragland said he was “extremely disappointed” with the tuition increase. Students shouldn’t have to expect a tuition hike each year, he said.
“We don’t want students to get apathetic that tuition will increase every year,” Ragland said.
Though the state appropriation remained at a level $318.1 million, it was necessary to increase tuition because of the rising costs in utilities, insurance, employee benefits and maintenance, Spanier said.
The university plans to make a one percent reduction for all academic colleges and administrative units to conserve money, Spanier said. He said the proposed budget includes internal expense reductions of more than $12 million.
Spanier said the No. 1 priority of the capital campaigns — like the For the Future campaign — is to raise money for scholarships to help compensate for the rising cost of college.
Ragland commended the board of trustees, the administration and alumni for their fundraising efforts.
Still, the gap between the student aid available and tuition increases is spreading apart and is difficult to close, Spanier said.
Board of Trustees chairman Steve Garban said at the meeting that it’s a “difficult balance” to keep tuition low and provide a quality education at the same time.
Both university officials and student leaders said they are already preparing for next year.
Spanier said the upcoming state budget for next year doesn’t bode well — and that could put the university in a tight spot. The trustees and administration could be having a “very difficult discussion” this time next year.
Tuition is set for this year, but Ragland and Council of Commonwealth Student Governments Vice President Peter Khoury agree it’s time to get working on next year.
“We’re putting together programs that really put us out there in enabling communications with our state legislature,” Khoury (junior-biology) said. “We’re reassuring them we have a passion for what we do, and we are very passionate about tuition issues.”
Ragland said the goal for next year is to lay the foundation for getting more students involved in the year-long budget discussion, so they don’t just enter the conversation at its end.
Construction on the Biobehavioral Health Building was also approved at the meeting Friday.