The Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education yesterday voted to freeze tuition for a third straight year, setting a baseline rate of $7,716 for an in-state student. Tuition at IUP, which charges on a per-credit basis, also held the line, at $319 per credit for in-state students.
Chancellor Dan Greenstein said the rate freeze underscores the State System’s commitment to meeting its mission of providing accessible, affordable higher education to Pennsylvania residents.
The Governors will meet later this month to consider the plan to integrating operations at six schools. Under the plan, California, Clarion, and Edinboro would become one entity and three more universities in the eastern half of the state, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield, would also merge.
Dr. Jamie Martin, the president of APSCUF, the faculty union at the State System schools, told the board in her remarks that the union has concerns over the consolidation plan. A survey conducted by the union showed faculty members question the rationale of the consolidation, given the projected savings come from options that are currently available to students. There are also questions about how expanded opportunities for students will occur; and about how the athletic teams will be handled. The NCAA has not yet ruled on the plan to keep athletic teams at each of the merged schools.
Martin told the board that the survey showed that less than eight percent of faculty support consolidation, and only seven percent think the process has been transparent.
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