Many students will have to cope with yet another tuition increase next term, and the ASUO has launched a new campaign to inform students and to offer tips on how to deal with the additional winter term expenses.
For the past few weeks, ASUO and Oregon Student Association representatives have been visiting classes to speak with students about the increases as well as “to get students voting on these issues they are affected by,” OSA Campus Organizer Courtney Hight said.
“We wanted to get the information out to students before they register,” Hight said, adding that there was no attempt by the administration to inform students about the increases. “They’re not going to know what’s coming,” she said.
After the Oregon State Board of Higher Education planned the tuition increase this summer, the ASUO and the OSA lobbied to delay the increases, originally set for fall term, until winter term 2004 to educate students. Next term, resident students will pay an extra $20 charge per credit from 14 to 16 credits. Non-residents will pay a $60 charge per credit from 14 to 16 credits.

Junior Missy Columbo said she would have to save up this term or else take out more loans and ask her parents for a little extra cash.
“I’m saving a lot of my money from this term in order to pay for it,” she said, adding that she doesn’t want to resort to taking out more loans and would rather save up money from her work-study job.
Some students, however, weren’t hit as hard by the tuition increases.
Senior Briana Harris said the increases aren’t enough to interfere with her ability to afford tuition, although she does have financial aid and works as a resident assistant. She said the fees implemented last year affected her more, but she is still frustrated with the continual tuition rises.
“They’ve done so many other things while I’ve been here,” she said about the cost increases.
Hight said that while the increases may not seem like a lot to some people, others can barely afford it.
“Unfortunately, this still doesn’t help some folks,” she said, adding that some students who don’t qualify for financial aid could be negatively impacted.
The ASUO campaign offers tips on how students can cope with the increases.
Students are advised to plan ahead for add/drop deadlines to ensure that they receive their anticipated refund if they drop a class. They should also see if their financial aid will match up with the term’s tuition costs to determine if more aid will be needed.
Finally, students in need of extra cash are encouraged to visit the University Career Center to find jobs, or to check out the ASUO Internship Program in which students can earn academic credit.
Students can also save some money by taking classes at certain times of the day.
Some classes offered before 9 a.m. and after 3 p.m. are eligible for a 15 percent tuition discount. Discounted classes have a “v” in the notes section of the winter class schedule.
Columbo said, however, that she is taking classes in a fixed program, so the discounted classes are an unlikely option. She also has to take 15 to 16 credits to stay on track for graduation, so taking fewer credits to reduce costs is not an alternative.
“It’s just going to make it a little more difficult,” she said.
Columbo said she will find a way to make up the extra costs no matter what, whether she must take out more loans or not.
“It’s not going to stop me from going to school here,” she said.