Students will pay $478 more in tuition, per semester, in the 2008-09 academic year, following the Board's budget action. President Haas told the Board, "We need to strike a balance between quality, access, and affordability, and I believe the budget I presented today meets that test.
"Grand Valley can no longer continue to be the university with the lowest state aid per student and nearly the lowest tuition, Haas said. "Our students expect us to retain the high quality academic programs that attracted them to Grand Valley in the first place. "
NOTE: More detailed information on the reasons behind the tuition increase is available in this PDF document. A document detailing Grand Valley's budget reductions is available here.
Even with the tuition increase, Grand Valley remains an outstanding value with the 2008-2009 tuition still below the average of public universities in Michigan.
Board chair Lucille S. Taylor has maintained that she and her fellow trustees "approved this tuition hike only after being satisfied that the university's proposed budget has been subjected to cuts, cost avoidances, and new efficiencies."
Taylor also said, "All members of the Board recognize that Michigan's economy is stressed, and that some students and families will need additional assistance in paying for college. Consequently, student financial aid will rise in tandem with tuition. More than $150 million in aid and loans is available to help our students and families manage the cost of getting a college degree. "
President Haas told the Board that the most effective way for students to control the cost of college is to graduate in a timely way, and Grand Valley is being resourceful in making that happen.
Some of the new tuition revenue will be used to schedule additional sections of high demand, required classes, said Haas. "Nearly all Grand Valley degree programs can be completed in four years. Students who avoid an extra semester or two of study will save $4,000 to $8,000 in additional expense. This is a real, concrete way we're helping our students and their families."
Haas also noted that a portion of the new tuition revenue will support construction of additional classrooms, faculty offices, and student study space.
Also at the meeting, board members passed a $243 million budget that contains a contract extension for Haas, see related story on GVNow, and a 4 percent raise for faculty and staff members.
Additional background information:
- GVSU's enrollment has grown by 50% in the past decade, more than any other state university. The state has stopped adjusting appropriations for changes in enrollment, meaning Grand Valley doesn't receive additional state funding for additional students.
- Average increase in state funding per student in Michigan grew by $2,334 over past 25 years. At GVSU, it grew $101.
- GVSU receives the lowest state funding per student of any Michigan university.
- GVSU's space per student is the second lowest in the state; Grand Valley would need an additional 2.5 million square feet to get to the average.
- In the past decade Grand Valley has doubled its number of annual graduates, preparing them for high pay, high skill jobs here in Michigan, where 88% of our graduates reside.
AUDIO CLIPS:
President Haas said the board focused on quality, access and affordability.
President Haas said the university will do its part to help students graduate in a timely way.
Trustee Lucille Taylor noted that Grand Valley receives the lowest state aid per student.
Taylor said the university's proposed budget has been subjected to cuts, cost avoidances, and new efficiencies.
