Correction Appended
In order to curb the growing cost of tuition, schools across the country have been freezing their college tuition rates. All 11 public universities in Maryland currently have this system in place, but no such tuition freezes are in the works at AU because it is a private university.
Maryland's public universities froze their tuition rates because the state wants to provide access to an affordable college education to all residents, according to John Buettner, spokesperson for the Maryland Board of Regents.
"Maryland is a knowledge economy," he said. Because of this, Maryland aims to provide access and affordability to college educations for all of its residents by controlling tuition. The idea of freezing the tuition grew from inflation that started in 2003 when tuition jumped 30 to 40 percent over a two to three year period.
Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson said no tuition freeze would happen at AU due to the differences between public and private universities. Public universities are influenced by "political considerations" because public universities can receive funding from the state government while private universities, like AU, determine their budget through a budgetary process.
To achieve their tuition freeze, Maryland's Board of Regents developed a policy known as "E and A" - which phonetically stands for efficiency and effectiveness. This policy streamlines and centralizes aspects of all the universities, thus saving money.
"We have shown the leaders in Annapolis that we are good stewards of public funds," Buettner said.
Since these practices have proven successful, Maryland's state government has increased state funding for the universities. This has allowed the tuition freeze to occur, saving each student nearly $1,200 over the past few years, as well as nearly tripling the need-based financial aid from $10 million in 1999 to $29 million in 2007, Buettner said.
The AU Budget Committee, co-chaired by Provost Scott Bass and Vice President of Finance Don Myers, includes members from the entire university community. The committee considers factors like employee benefits and utilities when determining the budget. In order to balance the budget, tuition increases as the prices of commodities rise. The expected inflation increase for tuition for next year is 6 to 8 percent, Hanson said.
Kate Esson, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said AU's higher tuition, which increases yearly, can motivate students to be involved in order to get their money's worth.
"[The higher tuition] makes you motivated to get more involved in university activities to get the most out of your money," she said. Due to the tuition rise, the university can afford to offer a wider range of opportunities on campus for students, she said.
Ben Walker, a junior in the School of International Service, said the tuition motivates him to go to class, not necessarily to become involved in activities.
"When money becomes a factor, you realize you are spending hundreds of dollars to sleep in," he said.
However, he said he believes the tuition freeze idea would be helpful.
"I would be more likely to go on a study abroad experience," he said. "Put some money away to go to Cairo."
You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
Correction: In a story published Sept. 18, "Md. Colleges freeze tuition," The Eagle incorrectly reported Vice President for Campus Life Gail Hanson's quotes regarding a possible increase in AU tuition for next year. Tuition increases are typically 2 to 3 percent, but no definite increase has yet been decided.
