Board of Trustees to set tuition rates, room and board, rename ProfEd at Thursday meeting
Next year’s undergraduate tuition rates and a name change for Central Michigan University’s off-campus and online programs are among topics to be discussed at Thursday’s board of trustees meeting.
Traditionally set during a July board meeting, tuition rates are being discussed earlier in order to allow students adequate time to plan financially.
CMU increased tuition for the 2011-12 academic year by 3.47 percent, $12 per credit hour, last July, the lowest increase among the 15 Michigan public universities. Gov. Rick Snyder has proposed a budget that includes a 3-percent increase in state funding for universities that keep tuition increases to 4 percent or less.
Many students are hoping tuition rates don’t face a major increase.
“I obviously want tuition rates to go down, but if they were to remain the same, that’d be OK,” said Detroit sophomore Jourdan Bender. “I really can’t afford anything higher, and the quality of education we get for the amount we spend is, in my opinion, worth it.”
Vice President of Development and External Relations Kathy Wilbur declined comment through University Communications while Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette could not be reached for comment Monday and Tuesday.
According to a release sent by the board of trustees, room and board rates for students living in residence halls will also be discussed at Thursday’s meeting.
Macomb sophomore Andrew Venditti said although he doesn't live on campus, for the sake of incoming freshmen, rates should be decreased.
"Part of the reason I don't live on campus is because it was so expensive," he said. "A lot of students just can't afford the cost, and although CMU is reasonably priced compared to other schools, an increase in cost would be devastating to some students."
CMU offers a number of off-campus and online programs, referred to as ProfEd. On Thursday, board of trustees members will discuss a name change for the program.
“To better reflect the scope of CMU, which delivers its academic programs on campus and at more than 50 locations and online, a proposal to change the name of Off-Campus and Online Programs to Central Michigan University’s Global Campus will be discussed by trustees,” the release said. “Also known internally as ProfEd, the new name will reinforce the department’s cohesiveness with the main campus and better reflect CMU’s goal for increased internationalization.”
Also on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting is setting graduate/doctoral tuition rates, the establishment of a bachelor’s degree in engineering science, discussion of the renovation of Anspach Hall and an update on the strategic planning process from co-chairs Barrie Wilkes and Claudia Douglass.
