In response to increasing enrollment and decreasing state support, the University is considering later classes and tuition breaks as a way to accommodate the rising number of University students.
The tuition model currently being discussed, known as the access-based model, focuses on dispersing teaching hours and classes more evenly throughout the day, providing lower cost tuition alternatives and providing more choices for students in terms of cost, time of day and number of available courses.
While 40 percent of students take classes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the University is looking to extend class hours. To expand class time availability, more classes will be offered during late afternoon and evening time slots. Offering classes at these times allows the University to teach more classes without a significant increase in building maintenance and operation costs and administrative costs.
The University is considering offering tuition discounts as an incentive for students to take classes offered later in the day.
For many students, a tuition discount would be enough of an incentive. Journalism major Kevin May said a price discount would motivate him to take those classes.
“I would definitely do it,” May said. “Any money saved is money earned.”
University Provost John Moseley, speaking at Wednesday’s University Senate meeting, said offering lower cost tuition could provide more choices for students.
“The lower cost tuition plan would provide students with more choices in terms of class time and cost,” Moseley said.
The University is facing another record-breaking year in enrollment; with reductions in state support, looking for ways to accommodate the majority of students is becoming a challenging task.
“We are faced with a dual challenge,” Moseley said.
Enrollment at the University has been rapidly increasing since 2000. Between 2000 and 2001, enrollment increased from 17,135 to 18,411 — marking the most significant increase within the last four years. Estimates for fall 2002 predict enrollment will reach 20,000 — the largest University total enrollment ever.
“We did not count on the enrollment to increase as rapidly as it has,” University President Dave Frohnmayer said. “We are ethically bound to utilize our physical space and teaching resources to the best of our ability.”