EMU freezes tuition, room and board; won’t affect CMU’s decision

• Tweet
• 

It is like the Central Michigan University Promise — only in simpler and short-term form.

Students at Eastern Michigan University will face no tuition increase for the 2010-11 academic year. The university’s Board of Regents on Tuesday approved a $280.9 million budget along with a 0 percent increase in tuition, fees, and room and board.

David Burdette, CMU’s vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, said that will not change things for student in Mount Pleasant despite the school’s similarity in size to EMU.

“(Central Michigan University) is going to make its own decision on what is best for CMU,” he said.

Geoff Larcom, EMU’s executive director of media relations, said EMU made the decision out of a desire to help students financially and educationally.

“The key was that, given the economic conditions, it’s the right move at the right time for students in Michigan,” he said.

Last fall, tuition for in-state students was $238.25 per credit hour for courses up to the 499 level. EMU students are required to pay other student fees — general, technology and student union fees — not included in the tuition rate.

“EMU had the lowest tuition increase — 3.82 percent — among public universities and colleges in the state last year,” Larcom said.

With no increases in tuition, student fees, and room and board, he said, an in-state EMU undergraduate student taking 30 credit hours will pay $8,377 for tuition and student fees.

Room and board for a standard 18-meal and double occupancy room, will remain fixed at $7,786, he said.

Burdette said what EMU is doing is interesting, but University President George Ross has repeatedly stated tuition is not the answer to all financial problems on campus.

“(We) will be modest to very modest in what we propose,” Burdette said.

Director of Public Relations Steve Smith said CMU will set a rate to maintain academic integrity. He said the university aims to prepare students for success once they leave campus, and it must do so in its own fashion.

“(We) have our own priorities and mission here,” Smith said.

He noted students who were enrolled at CMU before the fall of 2008 are still paying the CMU Promise rate.

“More than 20 percent of (our) students returning to CMU will still be paying that rate,” Smith said. “They will not experience an increase.”