WVU tuition hike approved

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WVU tuition will increase by 9.7% in August.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tuition and fees will up at three state schools this fall. The Higher Education Policy Commission met Monday to consider requested increases at West Virginia University, West Virginia State University and WVU-Potomac State College.

“I must admit, I was very skeptical about the 10% increase before the meeting. But, I believe the group from WVU has made a compelling argument for it, and I’m impressed with the vision they’ve put forward in their argument,” said Commissioner Dr. John Leon after hearing from WVU President Dr. Gordon Gee.

The group voted 5-2 to approve a 9.7% increase in tuition and fees at West Virginia University. That is a $672 increase over 2014-2015.

Tuition and fees will increase at Potomac State College by 8.1% after another 5-2 vote among the HEPC members. In the fall, students will pay an additional $288.

In a 6-1 vote, the HEPC also favored a 7% tuition and fee hike at West Virginia State University. That is a $434 increase from 2014-2015.

Commissioner Kay Goodwin opposed all three proposals. She did not have enough information to approve the increases, Goodwin said.

“Administrative costs still really, really concern me. It’s easy to give a percentage, but I’d love to see the numbers behind some of those percentages that are given,” explained the Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Education and the Arts

Institutions faced a 1.4% reduction in state support for 2016.

If increases are implemented, resources and support should increase as well said Michael Martirano, HEPC member and State Superintendent of Schools.

“I’m hearing that. I feel we need to articulate that clearer to our customers which are our students and families who often times do not have those advocates, first generation, all the individuals who don’t understand, quite frankly, what college is and what it means.”

Dr. Gordon Gee, WVU President, addressed the commission the special meeting prior to the vote.

He explained a completion dean will be hired to head a new program designed to increase 4-year graduation rates.

State code requires the HEPC to review the tuition and fee increases above 5 percent but the initial decisions are made by the individual school’s board of governors.

In a release following Monday’s meeting, Dr. Bruce Berry, chair of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, addressed the vote to increase tuition and fees at the three state institutions.

“Our institutions recognize this challenge, and we know that part of what they plan to accomplish through additional tuition revenues is a deepened focus on student retention and completion. Rest assured, the Policy Commission will tenaciously examine progress toward these promises,” commented Berry.