OXFORD — The fact that Ohio lawmakers lifted a statewide tuition freeze on public colleges and universities on Monday, July 13, will not affect a decision made in June by Miami University trustees.
“We are still holding with the tuition freeze for the fall semester and with the 3.5 percent increase for out-of-state students,” said Claire Wagner, Miami spokeswoman.
Trustees on Friday, June 26, approved the tuition freeze and the budgets that were passed predicated on Gov. Strickland’s budget proposal for the 2009-10 academic year, officials said.
The $50.5 billion, two-year operating state budget caps tuition increases at two- and four-year colleges and universities at 3.5 percent per year.
Not implementing an in-state increase will cost Miami about $1.75 million in tuition income, Wagner said.
“However, we knew we might be getting a decrease in state aid over the biennium so the budget that the trustees put forth accounts for that,” she said.
Steps to control costs at Miami include no pay raises for employees next year and university President David Hodge and vice presidents, in following the lead of the governor, will forfeit 10 days of salary in the coming fiscal year, which amounts to about $58,000.
“We are making cuts of about $5 million in addition to the cuts that were already made for this coming year,” Wagner said. “But we are keeping that on services not directly affecting the student educational experience.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.
