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Tuition and fee hikes approved for 2007-2008
by Allie Grasgreen | News Reporter
While the University of Oregon's tuition and fee rates for the 2007-08 academic year increased the second-least of all Oregon University System institutions, they remain the highest in the state.
University tuition for 15 credit hours went up 3.4 percent from the 2006-07 rate to $4,626. Tuition and fees increased 3.3 percent and stand at $6,168. The Board of Higher Education unanimously approved the rates at its meeting Friday.
Western Oregon University saw the highest increase with 15.8 percent.
OUS managed to meet Governor Ted Kulongoski's and the Board of Higher Education's goal of keeping the average tuition increase of all seven campuses combined below 3.4 percent - the Oregon median family income. The overall average tuition increase including all campuses is 3.3 percent.
The median family income benchmark was part of a larger effort to maintain college affordability in Oregon. The effort is also visible in increases and policy changes in the Oregon Opportunity Grant, Oregon's largest state funded need-based aid program, and Kulongoski's Shared Responsibility Model, a new model for need-based aid that would theoretically reinstate students' ability to work through college.
"The Shared Responsibility Model with the Oregon Opportunity Grant combined should bring us closer to affordable education," said Di Saunders, OUS Director of Communications. "This is one small step that the legislature has taken. We're very thankful for that but we need to deep pushing. We're still not at the point where higher ed is affordable for all Oregonians."
OUS worked closely with the Oregon Student Association during the past year to encourage low tuition rates for next year. OSA hosted events at the Capitol where students could speak to legislators about the importance of a college education and the necessity of affordable tuition.
"We worked really hard to make sure the state was putting their part in to keep tuition low," said Melissa Unger, OSA Executive Director. Unger said the tuition increase is "kind of anti-climactic" after Kulongoski's encouraging Governor's Recommended Budget, a guideline for the legislators who propose the actual budget. Kulongoski's was extremely optimistic, but legislators criticized it for promising money that wasn't available.
University tuition for 15 credit hours went up 3.4 percent from the 2006-07 rate to $4,626. Tuition and fees increased 3.3 percent and stand at $6,168. The Board of Higher Education unanimously approved the rates at its meeting Friday.
Western Oregon University saw the highest increase with 15.8 percent.
OUS managed to meet Governor Ted Kulongoski's and the Board of Higher Education's goal of keeping the average tuition increase of all seven campuses combined below 3.4 percent - the Oregon median family income. The overall average tuition increase including all campuses is 3.3 percent.
The median family income benchmark was part of a larger effort to maintain college affordability in Oregon. The effort is also visible in increases and policy changes in the Oregon Opportunity Grant, Oregon's largest state funded need-based aid program, and Kulongoski's Shared Responsibility Model, a new model for need-based aid that would theoretically reinstate students' ability to work through college.
"The Shared Responsibility Model with the Oregon Opportunity Grant combined should bring us closer to affordable education," said Di Saunders, OUS Director of Communications. "This is one small step that the legislature has taken. We're very thankful for that but we need to deep pushing. We're still not at the point where higher ed is affordable for all Oregonians."
OUS worked closely with the Oregon Student Association during the past year to encourage low tuition rates for next year. OSA hosted events at the Capitol where students could speak to legislators about the importance of a college education and the necessity of affordable tuition.
"We worked really hard to make sure the state was putting their part in to keep tuition low," said Melissa Unger, OSA Executive Director. Unger said the tuition increase is "kind of anti-climactic" after Kulongoski's encouraging Governor's Recommended Budget, a guideline for the legislators who propose the actual budget. Kulongoski's was extremely optimistic, but legislators criticized it for promising money that wasn't available.
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Spent enough
posted 6/11/07 @ 10:36 AM PST
The big tuition money is made off the "out of state student". Without us the whole system would collapse. Continue to gouge and ignore us - and don't expect us to stay in Oregon after graduation. (Continued…)
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