Students of higher education in Oregon will see increasing tuition costs next year after temporary sucharges were rendered permanent and other tuition increases were approved by the Oregon University System.
On March 21, the Oregon State Board of Higher Education met to formally approve a 2002-03 temporary tuition increase and present several tuition increase proposals for 2003-04. These increases are a direct effect of the January failure of Oregon Ballot Measure 28, OUS spokeswoman Di Saunders said.
Following the failure of Measure 28, the University implemented a temporary tuition surcharge for winter and spring term of $10 per credit hour for all undergraduate students. The surcharge was expected to expire at the end of this academic year; however, the failing economy and lack of state education funding led the University to incorporate the charge into the annualized tuition. Saunders said the decision was not something anyone expected — or wanted — but was one of the only options available to secure funding for OUS schools without harming student instruction.
In addition to making the surcharges permanent, the University may also implement a tuition increase for the 2003-05 biennium.
Students at the University may face a two percent increase to their annualized tuition for the 2003-04 academic year, raising average resident undergraduate tuition from $3,471 to $3,540 per term. For 2004-05, University resident undergraduate tuition is expected to rise 12 percent, totaling $3,965 per term. However, if students choose to take reduced tuition courses, the overall tuition would be slightly lower.
University Director of Admissions Martha Pitts said it was possible that the increase could affect enrollment, but she added the University was working with student financial aid packages to help ensure adequate funding for needy students.
Elizabeth Bickford, director of the University Financial Aid Office, said the federal financial aid program has failed to keep pace with rising tuition costs. Bickford added that this inadequacy has placed additional stress on the students and the University.
According to the OUS 2003-04 proposed tuition rates fact sheet, all OUS schools will set aside $6.1 million to fund financial aid for low-income students.
The University Financial Aid Office has already received an onslaught of student aid applications. Roughly 200 more applications have already been received than at this time last year, Bickford said.
“We have grant money for the neediest students, and basically all students can apply for federal loans,” she said, adding that federal loans, however, have failed to keep up with tuition increases.
Current University students should receive notification of their federal financial aid awards by April 15.