State funds could cap tuition increase

Tuition increases have become the norm in the yearly cycle of college students’ lives.

But… Tuition increases have become the norm in the yearly cycle of college students’ lives.

But last Thursday, Pitt announced that if the state complies with its requests for an increase in appropriations, tuition will not take the leap students have come to expect.

The University requested $202,836,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pitt spokesman John Fedele said in an e-mail.

“[This] represents an 8.5 percent overall increase over our fiscal year 2008 appropriation.”

“We told the commonwealth we would hold the tuition increase to not more than 4 percent for next year if we receive the entire amount requested,” Fedele said.

What does that mean for Pitt students?

If the school receives more money from the state, it will increase its tuition by the promised 4 percent for the 2007-08 school year. If approved, this will save money for the University’s 34,000 students at Pitt’s main campus and four other branch campuses in Greensburg, Johnstown, Bradford and Titusville.

The tuition increase for this fall was 6.5 percent.

Penn State University also plans to limit its tuition increase to 4.9 percent in exchange for a 7 percent increase from the state, totaling $357.4 million.

On Oct. 11, the State System of Higher Education will also make its request for its 14 universities including Slippery Rock, Clarion and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Does this mean that the universities plan to hold the state government accountable for higher tuition increases?

Not exactly, said state representative and chairman of consumer affairs, Joseph Preston Jr., D-Allegheny County.

“Universities, students and consumers alike are all seeing a phenomenal increase in costs with utilities, insurance, even food,” he said. “Pitt is trying to leverage itself, but at the same time it’s a lot of money.”

Preston added that Pitt’s request seems justified because of its goals of improving education and its recently expanded campus.

“The only thing we can do is question whether the money is being spent the way it’s supposed to,” he said.