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--> --> Higher ed tuition hike OK'd By AP and the Tidings For the first time in five years, the state Board of Higher Education has approved a tuition hike for all seven higher education institutions. The increase varies from school to school, but many students will see costs jump by more than 9 percent when tuition and fee increases are included. At Southern Oregon University, officials have worked hard to not increase tuition in the past. However this fall, in the face of ever-stringent funding from the Oregon Legislature, students attending SOU will be paying anywhere from $3,555 a year in tuition for a resident undergraduate student to $10,755 a year for a non-resident graduate student. On top of increased tuition costs at SOU, a technology resources fee increase adds $4 per term to address rising technology demands; incidental fee increases contribute $6.50 per term to cover inflation and expanded services in child care, alternative transportation and multi-cultural programs; and health service fees increase $5.50 per term to cover inflation - all coming out of students' pockets. Fees have gone up every year for all schools in the state, but tuition for resident undergraduates has stayed the same since 1997. "The last two legislative sessions the Legislature had frozen tuition," Tom Imeson, chairman of the budget and finance committee, said Friday. The 2001 Legislature, however, agreed to cap tuition increases at 4 percent this fall and 3 percent in 2002-03. Beginning this fall, tuition at five Oregon universities and the Oregon Institute of Technology will jump by 4 percent for Oregon-resident and out-of-state undergraduates. Oregon State University will increase tuition by 4 percent for residents and 5 percent for nonresidents. Resident undergraduates at OSU and Western Oregon University will see the biggest increase, with bills growing from $3,654 to 3,987 - a $333 jump. Undergraduate resident students at WOU can expect costs of $3,660 for 2001-02, a $318 jump from last year. The board passed the tuition increase unanimously, but not without criticism from some of those in attendance. John Wykoff, legislative director for the Oregon Student Association, said students are asked to pay too many fees - for everything from computer use to health services. Most fees are being increased along with tuition. Some schools will tack on a new energy surcharge to help pay for rising energy costs. The fee will be $30 per term at Eastern Oregon University, the University of Oregon, OSU and WOU. The Oregon Institute of Technology will assess a fee of $10 per term. Portland State University and SOU will not charge students an energy fee. The tuition increase approved by the board Friday only covers the 2001-02 school year. If the board seeks a tuition increase of more than 3 percent for 2002-03, they much first clear it with the Legislature. ---- On the Net: Oregon University System: http://www.ous.edu Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing