MORGANTOWN, W.V.a — West Virginia University Board of Governors held a special meeting for tuition and fees, but we’re not able to approve any action due to the state budget not being in place.
President Gordon E. Gee said that the University can’t solve any issues on tuition because there isn’t a state budget yet.
“We are constrained in making final decisions because of the fact that the legislator is still in session working towards our budget resolution,” said Gee. “I have great confidence that they are working diligently that they will come to a resolution.”
The University is working on a budget parameters, but will have to wait until the state budget is in place to take further action.
A few months ago, WVU faced a budget proposal in the West Virginia senate that would cut funding to WVU by $20 million.
Gee said that he will continue to remind the legislators how crucial it is to invest in higher education.
“I will continue to remind them that the university, with its academic medical center, is the highest employer in the state,” said Gee. “It creates more jobs. I will continue to urge that however the budget issues are resolved, that we need to start investing in higher education and particularly our University.”
The University increased tuition and fees by 5 percent since last year. Tuition has increased by $4,200 since 2002, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy.
The next Board meeting will be held on June 16, in the President’s Conference Room in Stewart Hall.