Resident tuition is likely to increase next year at UW-Madison, as the UW System Board of Regents attempts to achieve its goal of charging the midpoint tuition level among its Big Ten peers, according to UW System President Katharine Lyall.
\In order to mitigate the effects of large base cuts on student access, we should support a move to the midpoint policy for tuition, coupled with matching need-based financial aid,"" she said.
Lyall was quick to point out that this increase should not occur all at once but is a necessary move in light of state funding cuts to the system. Furthermore, it falls in line with ""the regents' long-standing policy of 'moderate and predictable' tuition.""
Achieving this goal would mean raising resident tuition from $4,423 this year, the second lowest resident tuition of public Big Ten universities, to $5,021 over time.
Regent Jose Olivieri supported Lyall's recommendation, referencing the Board's commitment last June to reach 95 percent of the peer midpoint for resident undergraduate tuition.
""I suggest that this budget problem move us quickly to the midpoint,"" he said.
This recommendation was one of four Lyall made to the board Friday as she outlined steps the university should take to deal with likely additional funding cuts.
Lyall told the regents it is necessary to look out for the university's long-term interest in order to avoid a ""death spiral"" and, in doing so, she advises that cuts first be made to the administrative areas least affecting students. The next step should be the elimination or merging of majors and programs with small enrollments or that coincide with similar programs at other campuses. Lyall said the last option would be ""review[ing] and adjust[ing] enrollment targets to reflect the elimination of additional faculty and staff from the budget.""
Lyall also suggested a restructuring option that would mean more autonomy for the university from the state.
""Depending on the depth and permanency of the ongoing budget reduction, restructuring may be the only long-term way to meet principle number one--preserving our core mission and capacity to serve Wisconsin,"" she said.
While supporting Lyall's recommendations, Regent Roger Axtell raised concerns Friday that the cost of non-resident undergraduate tuition, which is the second highest among public Big Ten universities, is deterring students from choosing the UW System, costing the system ""a couple of million, plus or minus,"" according to figures from Lyall.
Regent Fred Mohs agreed with Axtell's concerns, stressing the diversity brought by out-of-state students.
""We don't want to just have rich, dumb out-of-state students just to raise money,"" he said.
