Public Meetings on UH Tuition Plan Scheduled

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Posted: Jan 16, 2001

Proposal with modest increases over a five-year period circulating for comment

Final Schedule Subject to Regents Action This Semester

A proposed University of Hawaiʻi tuition schedule for the next five years has been drafted and is circulating for comment. The proposal has been formulated for discussion purposes, since official action on the plan will not be placed on the Board of Regents agenda until the middle of the spring semester, allowing ample time for review and comment.

Students, faculty and others may view a briefing on the proposal via the university's interactive television system (HITS). The briefing is scheduled for January 29, 2001, beginning at 1:30 p.m. In addition, public meetings on the proposal are scheduled to take place on four islands early in February.

Copies of the proposal are available on all campuses and on the World Wide Web for review prior to the HITS briefing and public meetings. (Site addresses, Web addresses and meetings times and locations are attached.)

Proposal Summary

§ The proposed tuition schedule covers the academic years 2001-2002 through 2005-2006. This multi-year schedule brings stability to the UH tuition structure, and makes financial planning possible for students, their families and UH campuses.

§ For undergraduates, the proposed schedule continues modest increases instituted for academic years 1998-99 and 1999-2000. There were no increases in undergraduate or graduate tuition in 2000-01.

§ At UH Manoa and UH West Oʻahu, undergraduate residents would pay annual increases of $3 or $4 more per credit respectively. Non-residents would be subject to the same dollar increases as residents.

§ UH Hilo would gradually achieve a common undergraduate rate over ten years. Currently, first and second year (lower division) students pay a lower tuition than third and fourth year (upper division) students.

§ At Community Colleges, it is proposed that beginning next academic year resident and nonresident students pay for all credits for which they are registered. This would affect students who enroll for more than 12 credits about 24% of CC students in the current year. No other UHCC tuition increases are proposed for the next two years, with $2 per credit increases proposed beginning in 2003-04.

§ Tuition schedules for graduate students, UH Manoa Professional Graduate Programs (Law, Medicine, Graduate Nursing, MBA programs), Continuing Education/Outreach, Summer Session, and Apprentice and Journey Worker programs are also included in the proposal.

Highlights

The proposed increases are approximately the same as the current nationwide rate of inflation for higher education: 3.5 per cent.

The undergraduate rates in the fifth year (2005-2006) of this plan will still be below last year's comparable benchmark and national averages.

Why is an increase being proposed?

In order to meet increasing costs, the university must increase revenues from all sources. The university is already working diligently to increase revenues from other sources state appropriations, federal grants, private giving, and entrepreneurial programs and to realize savings through internal efficiencies.

A national ranking for 1998 indicated that the family/student payment contribution to the financing of UH is one-third less than the national average and ranks Hawaii 46 out of 51 jurisdictions.

According to a study by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, both tuition rates and revenues at University of Hawaii are low relative to both comparable institutions and to students/families, ability to pay.

Other considerations:

Tuition revenues will be used for programs that directly benefit students. For example, additional tuition revenues about $2-$3 million per year will support student information technology services in classrooms, computer labs and libraries.

Financial aid offices begin the process of awarding aid as early as March 1. Knowing that the next five years will bring only small step increases allows students and their parents to better plan their budgets. A five-year plan also allows campuses to plan more efficiently.

A University of Hawaiʻi education remains an exceptional value for the people of Hawaiʻi, particularly in relation to the excellent programs here and the costs of tuition elsewhere.

What about financial aid?

No one who qualifies should be denied the opportunity to enroll at the university because of financial need. Financial aid in various forms remains readily available.

One out of every six students at the University of Hawaii receives a full or partial tuition waiver.

In 1998-99, the total amount of financial aid was about $89 million far exceeding the amount collected in tuition ($62 million).

Federal Pell grants are available to students demonstrating financial need. This year, the maximum level per student will increase from $3,300 to $3,750. Even at the lower level, UH students historically have not taken advantage of the maximum available.

 

University of Hawai'i

Tuition Proposal, 2001-2002 Through 2005-2006

Open Public Meeting Schedule

Students and others are invited to present testimony on the University's tuition proposal at open public meetings that will be held at the times and places listed below.

1. UHM Professional School Proposals - Law, Medicine, Graduate Nursing and Undergraduate Nursing

and Dental Hygiene fee, Business Masters:

O'ahu Monday, February 5, 2001 3:00* UH Manoa Campus Center Ballroom

2. All other undergraduate and graduate tuition proposals**:

Island Date Time Place

Hawai'i Friday, February 2, 2001 3:00* UHH Wentworth 1

O'ahu Tuesday, February 6, 2001 3:00* Leeward CC GT 105

Maui Wednesday, February 7, 2001 3:00* Maui CC Student Lounge

O'ahu Thursday, February 8, 2001 3:00* UH Manoa Campus Center Ballroom

Kaua'i Friday, February 9, 2001 3:00* Kauai CC Student Lounge

 

* The public meetings will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. and end when all present have had the opportunity to testify.

** Testimony on the UHM Professional School Proposals will also be accepted at all of these meetings.

Copies Available:

The University of Hawai'i Tuition Proposal, 2001-2002 Through 2005-2006, is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.hawaii.edu/ovppp/

Copies are on file at campus libraries.

Copies are available at the following:

Office of Provosts/Deans of Students, each campus.

Office of the Vice President for Planning and Policy, Bachman Hall 110.

 

University of Hawai'i

Tuition Proposal, 2001-2002 Through 2005-2006

Hawai'i Interactive Television System (HITS)

Briefing for Students

WHEN: Monday, January 29, 2001

1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

AGENDA:

1. Tuition Proposal and Rationale (Vice President for Planning and Policy);

2. Questions and answers (Vice President for Planning and Policy and campus

administrators).

LOCATIONS WHERE STUDENTS MAY ATTEND:

Island Campus and Room

Oahu: UH Manoa, Kuykendall 201

Leeward Community College, Library Room 116

Honolulu Community College, Building 4, Room 3

Kapiolani Community College, Naio Building, Room 206

 

Hawai'i: UH Hilo Media Center, Room 359

University Center-West Hawai'i, Kealakekua, Building 4, Room 3

 

Maui: Maui Community College, Media Center, HITS Room

 

Kauai: Kauai Community College, Learning Resource Center, Room 122

 

Moloka'i: Moloka'i Education Center, Room 103

 

Lanai: Education Center, Room 1