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State approves fall tuition increase By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon University students face increased tuition rates and a shift in the tuition plateau for the 2003-04 academic year. The State Board of Higher Education Friday approved Oregon University System institution plans for proposed tuition changes, including higher tuition fall term and changes to the tuition plateau by January 2004. SOU students already enrolled with 12 to 18 credits fall under the current tuition plateau. According to Ron Bolstad, SOU vice president for administration and finance, the plateau table will narrow under the new plan, ranging from 12 to 16 credits. Students enrolled above or below that window would pay by credit hour, helping the university raise revenues. "In winter term, if a student takes 17 credits that student would pay the base amount for 12 credits, the next four (credits) would be without charge but the next credit would be $87 dollars," Bolstad said, explaining the change. Bolstad said part-time students paying by the credit hour are in effect subsidizing credits taken by full-time students in the plateau. Changes to the plateau will allow the university to increase revenues while creating a more equitable system for students. "In these times when state appropriations are being reduced, this will generate additional revenues for the universities within the system in order to maintain and keep as many course offerings open as possible," he said. Other OUS institutions' plateau changes were also approved Friday - including Eastern Oregon University and Portland State University's decision to replace the plateau entirely with a straight per credit hour tuition. Bolstad said SOU will eventually phase out the plateau, but it will take time. "Southern's decision is to phase out the plateau but the pace of the phase out and the details of how that will be done are still under discussion," he said. "We felt we could gather data on the impact of student loads throughout the year and that would help us craft the remainder of the phase out. "The narrowing was to mitigate the impact of this so that students can adjust to it over time because it has been the historic way we've always charged." However, Bolstad said the university charges tuition per credit for summer sessions and extended campus programs. In addition to plateau changes - which go into effect winter term 2004 - increased tuition rates proposed last April were approved by the OUS board. SOU undergraduate resident tuition will see a 3.4 percent or $34 per credit increase from spring term; non-resident undergraduate tuition will increase by 8.3 percent or $301 per credit; resident graduate tuition will increase by 9.2 percent or $178 per credit; and non-resident undergraduate tuition will increase by 7.3 percent or $262, according to university officials. From fall term 2002 to 2003, tuition will see a 16 percent increase - with 2003 tuition surcharges figured into the base tuition. The university will still offer an affordability pool, providing additional financial aid to students unable to afford the increases. Letters will be sent this week to SOU students notifying them of tuition changes. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -