Tuition goes up, but not as much
Jonathan Wolinsky '10
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: News
Continuing a trend seen over the past few years, the increase in Wheaton's comprehensive fee will go down slightly from last year. According to Rick Wallick, Vice President for Finance, the college is "just starting to look at the question [of the fee] for next year."
The comprehensive fee includes tuition, room, board, and the student activity fee, with tuition making up most of the total.
There has "certainly been a trend of decreasing costs" associated with higher education around the country Wallick said. "Everyone feels it and I would expect it [to happen here]."
This does not mean that the fee will go down next year, it just won't go up as much as it has in the past. The total fee for the current year had a 5.9% increase over last year. This is down from 6.3%. An exact number for next year's increase is not yet available.
"This is a very small step in the right directions. It's better than nothing," said Lily Hoffman '11. "The cost of education in this country is ridiculous."
When asked what led to the decrease in the increases Wallick mentioned "a combination of factors." This included the overall fact that the college is committed to being "accessible to a broad segment of society."
"We try and look out several years [in the future] to have a general sense of what the budget will be," Wallick said. "About a year ago we looked at the growth in tuition and started to contain it. Affordability becomes an increasing issue as costs of education go up, the median family income goes down and government support for education also goes down."
The college has been investigating various means to save money and thus allow these cuts to be made. A major money saver has been the investment in more energy efficient programs such as lighting, heating and other big power consuming assets.
The tuition for any given year is set the year prior. The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) and the President's Council meet throughout the year to discuss pertinent issues relating to the budget and thus tuition.
So as to ensure all voices are heard, BAC consists of five faculty members, three staff members and three students. According to the BAC Web Site, it's purpose is to, "provide a forum for considering and shaping recommendations to the President and the President's Council about the relationship between resource allocation and broad institutional priorities."
The budget proposal is sent to the Board of Trustees in February for final approval.
The comprehensive fee includes tuition, room, board, and the student activity fee, with tuition making up most of the total.
There has "certainly been a trend of decreasing costs" associated with higher education around the country Wallick said. "Everyone feels it and I would expect it [to happen here]."
This does not mean that the fee will go down next year, it just won't go up as much as it has in the past. The total fee for the current year had a 5.9% increase over last year. This is down from 6.3%. An exact number for next year's increase is not yet available.
"This is a very small step in the right directions. It's better than nothing," said Lily Hoffman '11. "The cost of education in this country is ridiculous."
When asked what led to the decrease in the increases Wallick mentioned "a combination of factors." This included the overall fact that the college is committed to being "accessible to a broad segment of society."
"We try and look out several years [in the future] to have a general sense of what the budget will be," Wallick said. "About a year ago we looked at the growth in tuition and started to contain it. Affordability becomes an increasing issue as costs of education go up, the median family income goes down and government support for education also goes down."
The college has been investigating various means to save money and thus allow these cuts to be made. A major money saver has been the investment in more energy efficient programs such as lighting, heating and other big power consuming assets.
The tuition for any given year is set the year prior. The Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) and the President's Council meet throughout the year to discuss pertinent issues relating to the budget and thus tuition.
So as to ensure all voices are heard, BAC consists of five faculty members, three staff members and three students. According to the BAC Web Site, it's purpose is to, "provide a forum for considering and shaping recommendations to the President and the President's Council about the relationship between resource allocation and broad institutional priorities."
The budget proposal is sent to the Board of Trustees in February for final approval.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Ted Socha '04
posted 12/03/08 @ 11:50 AM EST
Even with this move, it is going to be hard for Wheaton to not make the US Dept of Education's to-be created "Shame List" next year. The construction of this list is described in Sec 132 of Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. (Continued…)
Ted Socha '04
posted 12/03/08 @ 11:58 AM EST
Even with this move, it is going to be hard for Wheaton to not make the US Dept of Education's to-be created "Shame List" next year. The construction of this list is described in Sec 132 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. (Continued…)
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