The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

BOT to vote on tuition hikes today

The SIU Board of Trustees is expected to approve a tuition increase of up to 12.6 percent today, but many students were unaware Wednesday that they might see higher tuition bills come next fall.

It was only after a Daily Egyptian reporter told more than 10 students about the proposed increase, that many of them became concerned.

Board Chairman Glenn Poshard told the DAILY EGYPTIAN in September that he anticipated the board to pass the proposed tuition increase.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it passes because I don't think the board wants to let down on the quality of the University," Poshard said during that interview. "Unless there are some very good arguments put forth to me, I would say I tend to support it."

Poshard was not available for comment Wednesday, but Ed Ford, SIUC's only student representative to the board, said he expects the proposal to pass.

"The only thing I can see happening is a possible delay, but if the proposal, as it exists, comes to a vote, I am pretty sure it will pass," said Ford, who plans to vote against the hike. "The [other] board members don't usually vote 'no' to anything being proposed by the University."

If the proposal passes, as suggested by Chancellor Walter Wendler at the board's September meeting, undergraduate students enrolled at the University prior to this semester will pay a 7.9 percent - or $360 - increase. This will make their tuition even with the $4, 920, four-year locked-in rate that students who entered this semester are paying, due to the recently passed truth-in-tuition law.

First-time students enrolling in the fall of 2005 will enter with a four-year, locked-in rate of $5,310, an increase of 7.9 percent over the current locked-in rate.

If passed, graduate students will pay $5,184 for the 2005-2006 academic year, a 12.5 percent increase, and law students' tuition would increase of 7.9 percent, bringing their tuition to $8,190.

Non-resident students, which include international students, would see the same percentage increases as resident students. However, they would pay a higher dollar amount because they are charged at least double what resident students pay, at rates depending on the year they enrolled in the University.

Students may voice their thoughts on the increases at today's meeting, and Wan Kamal Wan Napi, president of the International Student Council, plans to do just that.

"They say international enrollment is down because of Sept.11, but at SIU, it is declining because of higher tuition rates," he said. "By the time they reach 'Southern at 150,' they will be lucky if they find one international student."

"Southern at 150" is Wendler's plan to make SIUC a top-75 research institution by its 150th birthday in 2019.

Jessie Sims, a junior studying communication design from Murphysboro, said, had she known about the proposed increase, she might have protested. Even after learning about the increase, Sims said she probably wouldn't have though because she believes it would be fruitless.

"I am in a world of hurt right now already," said Sims, who is the mother of a 5-year-old girl. "If they would just put the money in the right place, they would have enough and wouldn't need to raise it anymore."

Ryan Allen, a senior studying computer science from Carbondale, was the only student asked that knew of the potential increase. He said he has seen several tuition increases over the past few years, but hasn't seen many improvements around campus.

"I've lived here my whole life, and it's very hard to see how we, as students, are benefiting." Allen said. "John A. Logan has kept its prices reasonable, and in my eyes, made more progress."

Allen, who attended John A. Logan for two years, said he will continue to recommend the community college as a good alternative to students who don't want to pay or can't afford the increasing tuition rates.

"Money by itself will not do anything," he said. "You have to have people investing this money in our best interests. If not, it is powerless."

Cathy Field, a graduate assistant studying sociology from Carbondale, said even though graduate students face the highest increases, she is more concerned with the undergraduate population being affected. She said many graduate students have tuition waived through assistantships. She too was unaware of the potential increase.

"I would have to say, if I were to think about it, I would be more concerned about undergraduate students," Field said. "Because SIU has a tradition as being the sort of campus where students come even if no one in their family has ever been to college before."

Nao Campbell, a sophomore studying administration of justice from Belleville, said he isn't concerned about tuition hikes.

"It doesn't matter to me because the government pays for my education," Campbell said. "I think some people will care, but I don't because I don't pay for it. If I did, then yeah, I would be mad."

Richard Vedder, a distinguished professor of economics at Ohio University and author of "Going Broke by Degree," said students across the nation are not protesting tuition increases because of grant and loan programs.

"When you've got a loan program, you say, 'Oh well, I'll just take out a bigger loan,'" Vedder said. "That enables universities to keep raising tuition."

The Board of Trustees will meet today at 10 a.m. in Ballroom B of the Student Center.

 

 

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