Legislators in Richmond, in their attempts to confound University students and administrators with extraordinarily high levels of incompetence, are close to approving yet another reckless and foolhardy proposal. The latest attempt to undermine higher education comes in the form of a "capital fee," which would charge out-of-state students $50 a year -- $2 million total across the Commonwealth. This would go directly toward paying off the General Obligation Bond, which will fund salary increases and capital projects.
Despite all evidence to the contrary, members of the General Assembly are making the absurd assertion that out-of-state students aren't paying their way. These legislators fail to realize that the reason out-of-state students pay approximately 140 percent of the cost of their education (as well as more than four times as much for tuition as in-state students) is because the University is a state school. The Commonwealth owns the property, constructs buildings, and is supposed to provide funding.
The latter is almost certainly not the case. Not only has the General Assembly consistently failed to meet state recommended levels of funding, but they have also placed restrictions on raising in-state tuition rates. In other words, legislators are preventing the University from raising the money that the Commonwealth should be giving them in the first place.
The proposed capital fee is the latest and most foolish proposal by the legislature. According to lawmakers, the reasoning behind this is that out-of-state students don't contribute to the capital of the University -- for instance, the property, buildings and construction projects. Therefore, they must be specifically fined to make up for this. But that's precisely the reason out-of-state students pay astronomically higher tuition and face tougher admission standards -- they don't contribute to the University's capital through taxes.
Whether they know it or not, the General Assembly is pushing the University toward privatization. This is an extremely radical idea, and would be far from sensible at the present time. However, as the Commonwealth cuts off more support, and places more severe regulations on the University, they are burning the candle at both ends, and leaving the University with very few other options.
The day the University privatizes, which most likely will not come at all, will be far in the future. However, the effects of the legislature's negligence will be evident much sooner. With their track record, the General Assembly could not be doing more to hurt higher education if they were making a concerted effort to do so.
A high-rise mistake
A proposed Charlottesville zoning ordinance would allow high-rise student housing to be built along JPA, 14th Street and 15th Street. The move threatens to reduce the broad range of housing options currently available to students and the unique feel and character of the University's lower density off-Grounds housing in these areas.
The proposal will increase traffic in Charlottesville neighborhoods, reduce parking options, and potentially create an off-grounds housing market dominated by the "cookie-cutter" high rise apartments found at other state universities with a less remarkable architectural heritage.
The public hearing to approve the proposal is March 26.Anyone who values the unique character of Charlottesville neighborhoods and University housing should attend and make their voice heard.
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