Students can expect to pay about $250 more each term to attend the University this year.
In June, the state legislature capped tuition increases at 4 percent this year, and 3 percent next year. However, with increases in fees, the total cost for undergraduate University students will go up by 6.6 percent this year.
Tuition will increase at Oregon’s other universities as well. At a meeting of the Oregon University System board this summer, tuition increases were approved at all seven OUS schools.
When fees are factored in, the cost of a college education in Oregon will go up as much as 9.5 percent. Coincidentally, 9.5 percent is how much fees will increase at Western Oregon University. Tuition and fees at Oregon State University will increase by 9.1 percent for undergraduate residents; 10.1 percent for non-residents.
While the price of attending the University will not jump as sharply at the University as at other state schools, it is still the most expensive of the seven institutions, OUS Assistant Vice Chancellor Bob Bruce said. Southern Oregon University is the least expensive.
Fees added this year include $125 per term for new computer science equipment, $50 per term for video equipment in the journalism school, and a new energy surcharge of up to $30 per term to cover rising power costs. Existing fees were also increased.
Schools could increase tuition over the 4 percent cap set by the legislature if approved by the state Emergency Board, which functions when the house and senate are not in session.
Although most schools, including the University, have kept the undergraduate resident tuition increase at 4 percent, some have applied to the board for increases in tuition for other categories of students.
Oregon State University, for example, raised tuition for non-resident undergraduates by 5 percent.
And, at a meeting earlier this month, the Emergency Board approved the University’s request to raise graduate student tuition by 5 percent this year.
Board members also criticized administrators at the University and other OUS schools for raising fees, saying that they used fee increases to go around spending limits set by the legislature.
One member, Sen. Lenn Hannon (R-Ashland), threatened higher education budget cuts in the future if fee increases continue.
Many student government leaders are concerned that students were not consulted about the fee increases.
ASUO President Nilda Brooklyn said she met with University President Dave Frohnmayer briefly before the OUS meeting to discuss the budget.
During that meeting, she said, Frohnmayer informed her of the fee increases, but administrators did not allow her or other students to offer their input.
In response to what she feels is lack of student control over fees, Brooklyn said she and ASUO Vice President Joy Nair have launched a campaign to eliminate the new energy fee.
Provost John Moseley, who represented the University at the OUS meeting, said the tuition and fee increases were necessary because the legislature did not budget enough money for the University.
“The basic problem is with the under-funding from the state legislature,” he said.
When adjusted for inflation, he said, the Legislature gave the University less money per student than last year.
And, with little left that can be cut from the budget, Moseley said, administrators have to get funding for the school from another source. Although administrators try to keep costs down for students through scholarships and private fundraising, students have to bear the brunt of rising costs as well, he said.
“I’m not saying it has to come from students,” he said. “But it has to come from somewhere.”