The Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education will vote today on a 3.5 percent tuition increase. That would raise the lowest base rate for an in-state undergraduate by $254, to $7,492. The Finance, Administration, and Facilities Committee said that if it were to close a $71.7 million hole in the budget, they would have to raise tuition by 7.5 percent. Declining enrollment and an increasing reliance on tuition to pay the expenses of operating a state-owned university were cited most often as the causes of the increase.
The Governors heard the report of NCHEMS, the consulting firm conducting a Strategic Review of the State System’s operations. The company did not recommend closing or merging any universities. Nor did it advocate for the separation of any university from the State System, as has been proposed by some at West Chester who feel the school is being dragged down by the struggles of the other schools.
NCHEMS says ailing universities such as Cheyney, Mansfield, and Clarion should focus on their core programs and significantly downsize operations that are not within their academic niche. Other recommendations:
- Seeking more non-traditional students such as those over age 25
- A legislative revamping of the 1983 law that created the System, with the intention of clearing up its organizational structure.
- A better working environment between management and labor.
- Clearer lines of authority
- Collaboration between universities, rather than competition.
The State System will review the recommendations before making any decisions. Meanwhile, NCHEMS will be conducting a series of question-and-answer sessions with stakeholders across the System.
