Ohio University students will pay more for classes, dorms and meal plans next year, in addition to a general fee increase, after the Board of Trustees approved fee increases Friday.
After much discussion - and several trustees stating how difficult the decision had been - the nine voting trustees unanimously approved a 3.5 percent tuition increase, a 3.5 percent general fee increase, a 2.5 percent increase in housing fees and a 2 percent increase in dining fees for next year.
The increases mean undergraduates currently paying $3,072 a quarter in tuition and general fee will pay $3,180 a quarter next year. OU estimates the increase in room and board costs means a student living in a standard double with air conditioning and a 20-meal plan will pay an additional $213 next year - an extra $71 each quarter.
During the meeting, board members said there aren't any other options for filling a projected $13.75 million hole in the university's budget for next year.
I
quite honestly haven't figured out a way not to do it trustee David Brightbill said.
Vice chairwoman M. Marnette Perry said she was glad administrators provided the board with detailed budget information.
I think we can feel really good about the work that was done by the university and when you look at how we've clarified it
how you've been very specific
how we know what we're going to do or not do. I think that that is really helpful
Perry said.
Much of the information OU President Roderick McDavis and his top staff gave the board was breakdowns for budget reductions the president released March 29.
Trustees said they recognized the need for fee increases because OU cannot get to its budget goals with cuts alone.
I
along with all of us
never take pleasure in increasing the burden on our students and their families
trustee Larry Schey said. On the other hand ... life is a balancing act and to merely cut things ... and damage the student experience and our academic quality
is not the answer.
McDavis estimated the increases would bring in an additional $5.2 million in revenue, money OU expects to spend on scholarships, course sections, faculty and staff raises and enrollment initiatives.
Student trustee Kyle Triplett said things could only get worse if the board didn't approve this increase, even though he was reluctant to increase student costs.
We know that we have these problems
and I think that as President McDavis highlighted
