The Board of Visitors met Saturday to approve increases in tuition fees by $665 for in-state undergraduate students and $1,845 for out-of-state students.
New tuition rates are aligned with the University's Six-Year Plan, a strategy approved in September 2005 that binds the University to fixed, annual allocations in exchange for moderate tuition increases and observance of state-directed mandates. The plan has been submitted as part of the Higher Education Restructuring Act.
This fall, in-state undergraduates will pay $7,845 in tuition and fees, a figure 9.3 percent higher than 2005-06 rates. Their total education costs, which include tuition, fees, housing and dining expenses, will increase by 8.6 percent.
Out-of-state tuition and fees will be $25,945 representing a 7.7 percent increase over last year's costs. The total bill, including housing and dining, comes to $33,052.
"I believe these increases are lower than the rest of the schools in the Commonwealth," Vice Rector W. Heywood Fralin said.
The Board usually sets tuition prices during its April session; however, the General Assembly has yet to approve a state budget, forcing board members to delay discussion of education costs.
Tuition prices were handled by the executive committee because of time between meetings, Rector Thomas F. Farrell, II said, allowing the Board enough time to review the materials."
"We don't take tuition increases lightly and recognize people have to pay for these, but we need to fund our priorities," Farrell said.
In addition, the board's goal is to "provide incremental revenues to fund University priorities and to meet unavoidable cost increases," according to the committee's approved tuition proposal.
Examples of the Board of Visitors recently discussed priorities include the provision of competitive salaries for faculty and staff, affordability of undergraduate education through AccessUVa, reduction in deferred maintenance and provisions for enrollment growth.
"It is important to emphasize that the incremental revenue provided by this increase is adequate for approved BOV priorities," said Leonard Sandridge, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "It is important to be reminded that AccessUVa program covers some of tuition."
In addition, the Board made a committee-recommended $340--or 16.7 percent--increase to required auxiliary fees at the College. Auxiliary fees fund services such as the University Transit Service, Safe Ride and Student Health. Debt related to the construction of the new Observatory Hill Dining Hall accounts for $235 of the fee, and comes as the first installment of a three-year plan to bring the fee to $705 by the 2008-2009 academic year if an expected gift for the dining hall is not realized.
Although the University has the third-highest in-state tuition in the state, this year's increases are comparatively low.
Read More
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 2 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
What does the University’s contract with dining service Aramark entail?
By Brandon Kile | 3 days agoThe Cavalier Daily submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the University for its contract with Aramark to understand the specific terms of the agreement.
