Board of Trustees to approve tuition hike

The Board of Trustees meets Tuesday, March 16, to officially confirm the proposal of a 3.5 percent increase in tuition rates.

Despite severe budget cuts, the University of Cincinnati has not raised tuition for the last four years.

The Tuesday meeting agenda includes the request to rescind a waiver placed on a 3.5 percent increase for the 2009-10 academic years. The Board of Trustees approved the increase before the beginning the year, but not before financial aid was already distributed.

The waiver prevents the decision from going into effect, but reserves the ability to request the 3.5 percent increase for the following academic year. The reservation for the 3.5 percent increase for the first of two years is necessary because the state operates in two-year budget agreements.

Tuition charges for undergraduate students on Main Campus will appear as a 7 percent increase, or the two 3.5 percent increases added together. Regional campus and graduate students will be charged 4 percent more while College of Law and College of Medicine students will be charged an additional 5 percent.

The increase for the latter two colleges is part of the response to competitor schools as well as an attempt to maintain a well-staffed faculty who have access to the best equipment and teaching tools, said Bob Ambach, interim vice president for Administration & Finance.

The increase will also offset the pending budget cut that estimated at 8.5 percent, which is approximately $22.3 million, Ambach said.

UC already experienced an 8 percent budget cut for the 2009-10 academic year.

The Federal government provided stimulus funds for Ohio public universities, which have helped UC stay afloat during a period of hefty budget cuts – but the funding will be terminated in June 2011, said Greg Hand, university spokesperson.

In order to remain accessible to middle-class and low-income families, the fund for need-based scholarships will increase $900,000.

In addition, the board will receive a request to keep parking rates and board and room rates flat as well as the surcharge for out-of-state students.

If the increase is approved, the official numbers for the following academic year will not be set until the June meeting.

Follow @NewsRecord_UC during the Tuesday meeting, beginning at 8:30 a.m.