COLUMBUS - Though resident undergraduate tuition and fees will increase $246 at The Ohio State University for the 2000-01 academic year, university officials emphasize that Ohio State remains an excellent value for taxpayers.

The Board of Trustees on Friday (6/2) accepted a recommendation for the 6 percent increase in resident undergraduate tuition and fees. Resident undergraduate instructional and general fees will increase $246 for the year, or $82 per quarter, for a full-time student, translating to tuition and fees of $4,356 for the academic year. Nonresident undergraduate fees will increase $645, or 5.3 percent, for the year.

On Friday, trustees approved the first 4 percent of the tuition increase. State law requires a second vote for increases greater than 4 percent, so the board will vote on the additional 2 percent in July to achieve the full 6 percent.

Based on 1999-00 figures, Ohio State ranked ninth among the state's 13 public universities in undergraduate fees, and $276, or 6 percent, below the state average for annual education costs. Underscoring the combination of below-average tuition with Ohio State's top academic reputation ranking among Ohio's public universities in a 1999 rating by U.S. News & World Report, Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray said, "It's clear that Ohio State offers a quality education while remaining responsible to Ohio citizens in a cost-effective way.

"In addition to educational value, we strive to offer the best resources and services to our students so they will be ready for the work force or advanced study upon graduation. We consider it a top priority to strike the appropriate balance between the fees charged and the quantity and quality of services provided," Ray said.

The total cost for an in-state undergraduate to attend the Columbus campus and live in university housing will increase $635 for the academic year, or 5.8 percent, from $10,856 to $11,491 - an increase of less than $2.75 per day for an 11-week quarter, noted William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance.

That annual figure takes into account a 5 percent increase for room and board, an estimated 5 percent increase for textbooks and supplies, an 11.6 percent increase for health insurance, and a 14.8 percent increase for parking on the central Columbus campus and a bus pass.

Services falling under general fees include the counseling and consultation service, disability services, international education, recreation and intramurals, Student Affairs administration, the student health service, student life offices, student union general fund support and several other programs.

Funding from tuition and fees also is committed to reducing the student/faculty ratio, maintaining the purchasing power of library acquisition, increasing scholarships and financial aid, increasing wages for student workers and improving access to instructional technology. In fact, 0.5 percent of the undergraduate fee increase will be set aside for improved student services and instructional technology.

Ray and Shkurti acknowledged that the 6 percent increase in undergraduate tuition - the maximum allowed by state law - exceeds inflation. But they said Ohio State will seek other sources of funding, such as private fund raising, sponsored research and internal reallocations, to absorb the increasing costs of providing the most possible resources to students.

They also noted that Ohio State receives far less financial support per student than the average per-student support at its benchmark institutions. Benchmark institutions are the nine universities against which Ohio State measures itself - schools that are highly ranked academically and comparable to OSU in mission, size and configuration. They are Pennsylvania State University and the universities of Minnesota, Washington, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, Wisconsin and California, Los Angeles.

Ohio State's revenues per student are 19 percent lower than the benchmark average, and state support per student (full-time equivalent) at Ohio State is 7 percent - or $635 - lower than the average for benchmark institutions. In addition, resident undergraduate fees fall $245, or 6 percent, below the average among the benchmark schools.

"This makes Ohio State an excellent value in Ohio and nationally, but it also means Ohio State does not have the resources to fully match or exceed our competition in critical areas such as services to our students," Ray said. "Though we operate within the limits of our fiscal support, we provide what our students expect and deserve - the best education and level of service available. These increased fees will be used to continue to make significant improvements in the quality of services to students."

In other fee increases, the annual resident graduate student tuition and fees will rise $291 (5.1 percent), or $97 per quarter, to $6,021. Nonresident graduate student fees will increase $747 (5 percent) for the year.

Differentially higher increases are recommended for professional and graduate students on a selected basis. A tuition increase of 19 percent is recommended for in-state students in law, 8.5 percent in medicine and veterinary medicine, 9.5 percent in dentistry, and 35.2 percent in the MBA program.

A recommendation for regional campus fees will not be presented to trustees until July. For the first time, regional campus costs will be divided into upper- and lower-division fees; in accordance with state guidelines, the lower division must decrease by 5 percent and the upper division may increase up to 3 percent.

In other fiscal business, the trustees approved the continuation of computer laboratory fees in the Fisher College of Business, the College of Engineering, and the School of Public Policy and Management, all at the 1999-00 levels. Effective autumn quarter 2000, full-time undergraduate students in the Fisher College will be assessed $85 and full-time graduate students will be assessed $120 per quarter. Full-time undergraduate majors in the College of Engineering will be assessed $110 and full-time graduate students will be assessed $120 per quarter. The School of Public Policy and Management will assess full-time graduate students $120 per quarter.

Trustees also approved an interim budget to continue expenditures consistent with the level of resources approved for fiscal year 1999-2000 from the July 1 beginning of the new fiscal year until the board approves a current funds budget for 2000-01.

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(LO)