Grand Valley State University President Mark A. Murray said today he will recommend that the university limit its tuition increase for next year's in-state undergraduates to 2.4 percent. This move is in response to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's request in her State of the State address that universities cap any tuition increase at inflation.
Participation means that tuition would increase by only $67 next fall. For example, a full-time Michigan resident freshman would be charged $2,891 per semester.
"In these very challenging fiscal times, the Governor has shown that higher education is a high priority for her," said Murray. "While it will be very difficult for us to comply, I believe we owe it to our students to meet the governor's request -- it means more state support for Grand Valley and tuition relief for our students. Both are important outcomes."
Granholm has said that a university that agrees to hold its tuition rate hike to inflation (2.4 percent) in the 2004-05 academic year would receive a partial refund of the budget reduction that occurred last December. Under terms of the governors plan, the universitys appropriation would be raised to $57.9 million and held at that level during fiscal year 2005. The university began the current 2004 fiscal year with an appropriation of $59.1 million; that was cut to $56.1 million in December.
"If the Legislature passes and the governor signs a higher education appropriation with these features, I will recommend to our Board of Trustees that Grand Valley participate," Murray said. "Grand Valleys participation would remain in force over the coming year so long as the states financial support also remains unchanged."
Murray will discuss the matter with the Board of Trustees at its next meeting on February 13. Formal board action would come later in the spring, or early summer as the state budget moves toward completion.
"It is particularly difficult for Grand Valley to adopt this plan because it receives the lowest state appropriation per student and has the states second lowest overall cost of educating students," explained Murray. "Grand Valley also has fewer out-of-state and graduate students than do some of the other campuses that have so far indicated interest in the plan. Nevertheless, our students and their families expect us to go the extra mile."
