Despite the Board of Trustees’ approval of a 2 percent tuition increase for the class of 2018, third-year students at Ohio University might not see those added costs after all.
In the state’s budget proposal, Ohio Gov. John Kasich proposed a tuition freeze during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 academic years, which means students in the class of 2018, or the last OU class not on guaranteed tuition, would not see the $105 increase originally approved.
The university, however, is still able to increase tuition for the class of 2021 because the freeze would not affect students on guaranteed tuition.
Kasich froze tuition for Ohio universities and colleges for the past two academic years.
Jim Bennett, vice chancellor of Finance and Data Management for the Ohio Department of Higher Education, said the proposed tuition freeze would apply to students on non-guaranteed tuition plans.
“We believe that universities that have previously adopted undergraduate tuition guarantee programs have demonstrated their commitment to holding down costs for their students,” Bennett said in an email. “The undergraduate tuition guarantee programs that are in place already freeze tuition, fees and other expenses over the entire four years of a student’s academic experience, and their tuition restrictions are governed by a separate section of the Ohio Revised Code (Section 3345.48).”
Serena VerWeire, a junior studying child and family studies, is one of many who would not see a rise in tuition costs for the third year in a row.
“If I don’t have to pay more in tuition, then I’m cool with that,” VerWeire said. “Being able to save money for my expensive education would be nice.”
John Carey, chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, said Kasich has some concerns about the cost of higher education.
“Right now, 42 percent of our population has some kind of degree or credential,” Carey said. “We need that to be about 65 percent by 2025.”
To do that, Kasich appointed the Ohio Task Force on Affordability and Efficiency in Higher Education.
“The governor strongly believes that we need to do a better job with the resources we have, not just in higher education, but throughout the state government,” Carey said. “So, that’s why he proposed the tuition freeze.”
Carey said he hopes the proposal will not affect universities’ budgets.
Jeff Robinson, a spokesman for the Ohio Board of Higher Education, said when Kasich last approved a tuition freeze, some university officials looked at their campus master plans and eliminated square footage on their campuses, which saved in deferred maintenance costs.
OU Spokeswoman Carly Leatherwood said Kasich’s two-year budget proposal addresses concerns that university officials share about maintaining an affordable education for students.
“We look forward to working with the Governor and the Legislature over the coming months on these important opportunities to ensure affordability while providing overall value in our state’s higher education system,” Leatherwood said in an email.
