The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates recently passed a bill which requires that a fee be charged to in-state students at public universities who have completed 125 percent of the credit hours needed to obtain a degree in their chosen program.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Walter Stosch, R-Glen Allen, passed the in House of Delegates March 15 and was passed by the Senate the next day. It now must be signed by Governor Tim Kaine before it can be passed into law.
According to the legislation, the fee, or "surcharge", will consist of the cost of educating the student outside of tuition and general fees.
The Department of Planning and Budget 2006 Fiscal Impact Statement estimates this charge to be $6,700 per year for a full time student, or $224 per credit hour.
Approximately 1,500 students throughout the Commonwealth are potentially eligible for the surcharge, according to the report.
Certain courses are not factored into the calculation of the 125 percent credit threshold, including advanced placement and international baccalaureate credit, dual enrollment credit and remedial credit, as stated in the bill.
"In essence, what the General Assembly was trying to accomplish was encouraging students to graduate in roughly five years," Chlorisa Phillips, University assistant provost for institutional advancement, explained. "The purpose was to penalize students who graduate in over five years."
However, Phillips said, the legislation will have only a small impact on University students.
"At U.Va., our graduation rates are just phenomenal," she said. "This will not affect our students to the same affect as other universities."
One area that could potentially be impacted by the legislation is student financial aid, Student Financial Services Director Yvonne Hubbard said.
The legislation "will raise the cost of education, so it could also raise the cost the University has to pay for financial aid," Hubbard said, noting that AccessUVa meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need.
However, the bill also allows schools to waive the surcharge in the case of illness, disability, service in the armed forces and other reasons.
"As far as SCHEV [State Council of Higher Education for Virginia] is concerned, we have very clear opportunities to request waivers," Phillips said.
Specifics of the bill will be decided by SCHEV, Hubbard said.
Elizabeth Wallace, SCHEV director of government communication and relations, concurred, while adding that it was too early to predict any specific changes SCHEV may make to the legislation.
"Once the governor takes action on it, then we will determine if any changes need to be made to the guidelines," she said.
According to Hubbard, out-of state students at the University pay roughly one-and-a-half times the cost of education, while in-state students pay only half of the actual cost, Hubbard said.
"Your tax dollars are being used to help you go to school, and you need to finish in a timely manner," Hubbard said. "After 125 percent [of degree credit], you need to pay a surcharge."
Stosch was in special session and could not be reached for comment.
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