Tuition on the rise again

The Board of Visitors voted unanimously Friday to raise tuition for the 2005-’06 school year.

Charles King, vice president of administration and finance, said the average increase for Virginia college tuition for the next school year is between 7 and 9 percent. JMU currently ranks 11th-highest for in-state tuition, and the eighth-highest for out-of-state tuition among Virginia colleges. However, King said JMU will most likely drop one to two slots in each category during the next year, making JMU comparatively less expensive to other Virginia colleges and universities.

In-state tuition and fees will increase $410, from $5,476 to $5,886 per year. Out-of-state tuition will also raise as it increases from the current $14,420 to $15,322, a difference of $902 per year.

Students wishing to live on campus will see a bill $244 more as the price will rise to $6,124 for the 2005- ’06 academic year.

King said in-state, on-campus students can expect an increase of $645 and commuters should expect an additional $410.

Out-of-state students’ tuition and fees will increase from $11,696 to $12,434, a rise of $738.

In-state graduate students’ costs per credit hour will increase by $20 and for out-of-state students, each credit hour will cost an additional $40.

The increase in tuition follows the board’s Jan. 5 decision to raise summer session tuition fees.

In the Athletics Committee report, board member Zie Rivers said student athletes had the highest grade-point average since JMU began measuring student athletes’ GPAs in 1999. In particular, the 2004 football team had its highest GPA on record, which Rivers credited to the two full-time advisers that assist the team.

Joe Damico, who gave the Finance and Physical Development report, said JMU is going ahead with its first payment of $8 million to purchase Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Plans for the PC Ballroom also were detailed; the space will feature four new dining options and offer 300 new seats for diners, Damico said.

During the meeting, plans were also detailed for JMU’s purchase of Rockingham Memorial Hospital and aspiration to become a charter school.

King also gave an update on the General Assembly, in which he detailed the focus on one-time spending, cutting the food tax, contributions to the Rainy Day Fund and improving transportation. Because no legislation passed, King said, $800,000 to $1 million could be seen on improving the transportation system for higher education.

Faculty salaries will increase more than what the governor had proposed, King said, from the proposed 3 percent to 4 percent.

The open portion of the meeting ended with King’s description of JMU’s six-year capital plan. This plan includes a student housing project that would bring 500 more beds to campus, renovating three more Bluestone residence halls, completing the transformation of Bridgeforth Stadium, $30 million to renovate RMHs hospital tower and a new Carrier Library.