OHIO STATE RAISES TUITION 6 PERCENT FOR 1999-2000

   COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Friday (6/4) approved the first of a state-mandated two-phase vote with the intent to increase undergraduate resident tuition by 6 percent for the 1999-2000 academic year.

   The first vote increases tuition by 4 percent. The complete 6 percent tuition increase is pending a vote at the board's July 2 meeting, after the Ohio General Assembly adopts a state budget for higher education.

   For undergraduates, the increase means resident instructional and general fees will increase $231 per year, or $77 per quarter, for a full-time student. An undergraduate student from Ohio will pay $4,110 in tuition next year. Nonresident fees will increase $612 per year.

   The total cost for a resident undergraduate to attend Ohio State's Columbus campus and live in university housing for the year will increase $527 for the academic year, or 5.1 percent, from $10,329 to $10,856 -- an increase of less than $2.50 per day for a 10-week quarter, noted William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for finance, business and administration.

   That annual figure takes into account a 4.3 percent increase for room and board ($213), a 2 percent increase for textbooks and supplies ($14), a 5.9 percent increase for health insurance ($33), and a 21.2 percent increase for parking on the central Columbus campus and a bus pass ($21).

   Resident graduate student fees will increase $285 per year, or $95 per quarter, to $5,730. Nonresident fees will increase $720 per year. Differentially higher increases are recommended for professional and graduate students on a selected basis. Ohio students in law, medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine will see a 9.5 percent tuition increase, and students in the MBA program, a 14.6 percent increase. Tuition for in-state graduate students and professional students in pharmacy and optometry will increase by 5.2 percent for 1999-2000.

   The 6 percent increase in undergraduate tuition -- the maximum allowed by state law -- maintains Ohio State's value to taxpayers, especially when compared to benchmark institutions and other state schools, said Edward J. Ray, executive vice president and provost.

   "Ohio State's undergraduate fees remain 7 percent below the state average for public assisted universities, and 7 percent below the average among our benchmark institutions," Ray said. "But our revenues and state support per student also are significantly lower than benchmark universities."

   Ohio State's revenues per student are 19 percent less than the average for benchmark institutions, and state support for Ohio State students is 8 percent lower than the benchmarks' average. Benchmark institutions are the nine universities against which Ohio State measures itself. The schools are highly ranked academically and comparable to Ohio State 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.

   "While we remain an excellent value in Ohio and nationally, we do not have the resources to fully match or exceed our competitors in critical areas, such as service to students, or to better serve the people of Ohio without seeking an increase in tuition and fees," Ray said. He also noted Ohio State's value in the context of rankings: Based on U.S. News & World Report academic reputation rankings, Ohio State is ranked 35th with a 1998-99 annual tuition of $3,879, compared to Miami University, ranked 69th with a tuition of $5,802.

   The additional funding will support, among other programs and services, a reduction in the student/faculty ratio; library acquisitions; increased scholarships and financial aid; increased wages for student workers; and improvements in student services and instructional technologies.

   Shkurti noted that in addition to increasing student tuition, Ohio State will seek other funding sources through private fund raising, research grants, and internal reallocations made possible by improved operations. He also said university financial aid will be increased proportionally to minimize hardship on the neediest students.

   Shkurti said recommendations regarding tuition and fees at regional campuses in Lima, Mansfield, Marion and Newark will be presented to trustees in July. Because additional state funding is available through Access Challenge, Shkurti added, he expects to recommend little or no increase at that time for the regional campuses -- excluding the Agricultural Technical Institute.

Miscellaneous business

   In other business, trustees:

   -- Approved an interim budget to continue expenditures at the 1998-99 level from the July 1 beginning of the new fiscal year until the board approves a current funds budget for 1999- 2000.

   -- Authorized the sale of 1.1 acres of land on the south side of state Route 33 in Logan County to the Ohio Department of Transportation at a cost of $300.

   -- Amended the Rules of the University Faculty in three areas: updating membership of the Council on Student Affairs; creating the Council on the Physical Environment and abolishing the Committee on Traffic and Parking, reflecting an effort to more effectively provide for University Senate consultation in matters affecting the university physical environment; and specifying procedures that entail an effort to speed up the review of appeals of promotion and tenure denials.

   -- Heard a report about 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 proposed to remain at the 1998-99 levels.

   -- Heard a monthly endowment report from University Treasurer James L. Nichols. The endowment stood at $1.02 billion as of May 31, Nichols said.

   -- Approved the sale of $158.7 million in commercial paper to fund 15 construction projects. Commercial paper is sold much like short-term notes.

   -- Granted competitive bid waivers for 72 purchases totaling $27.9 million for the period of January to March 1999.

   -- Approved 210 contracts totaling $18.9 million for research projects funded in April.

Contact:
Edward J. Ray, Academic Affairs, (614) 292-5881
William J. Shkurti, Finance, (614) 292-9232