RICHMOND -
Two public universities in Virginia approved rare midyear tuition increases Friday to help offset drastic state funding cuts.
The College of William and Mary's Board of Visitors voted to increase tuition by $300 for the spring semester. The Williamsburg school also will eliminate 18 jobs, including 12 layoffs, as part of a $1.5 million reduction in its operating budget.
College officials said the moves will help offset a 15 percent, or $6.2 million, reduction in state support announced in September.
In Fredericksburg, the Mary Washington University Board of Visitors approved a tuition increase of $100 per full-time student to raise an estimated $435,000. The increase would take effect in the spring semester and would be prorated for part-time students.
Mary Washington University officials say the revenue primarily would go toward maintaining academic programs and for need-based financial aid. Full-time, in-state undergraduates currently are charged $7,112 annually in tuition and mandatory fees.
The school also is trimming spending for 2009-10 by more than $2 million in response to the state higher-education budget reductions announced in September. More than $1 million of the Mary Washington's cuts have been achieved by keeping vacant positions open, including teaching jobs. Other areas affected include funding for student programs and clubs.
Gov. Timothy Kaine is proposing cutting $196.8 million from general fund appropriations for Virginia's public colleges and universities in the upcoming two-year budget. An infusion of $91.5 million in federal stimulus money for the 2010 fiscal year reduces the net cuts to about $105 million.
Mary Washington officials say the university has seen a 32 percent, or $6.6 million, reduction in state funding since 2007. William & Mary says its 32 percent reduction since April 2008 amounts to $16.7 million. Other colleges and universities also face drops in state funding and are cutting spending accordingly.
Virginia Commonwealth University officials discussed a similar possibility but took no action, VCU spokeswoman Pam Lepley said Friday. The university expects to lose more than $15 million in state funding in the upcoming budget, and last week said it would eliminate 91 jobs through layoffs and attrition.
The Virginia Community College System recently approved a spring tuition increase of $7.30 per credit hour, which would add about $22 to the cost of a typical community college class.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
The College of William and Mary's Board of Visitors voted to increase tuition by $300 for the spring semester. The Williamsburg school also will eliminate 18 jobs, including 12 layoffs, as part of a $1.5 million reduction in its operating budget.
College officials said the moves will help offset a 15 percent, or $6.2 million, reduction in state support announced in September.
In Fredericksburg, the Mary Washington University Board of Visitors approved a tuition increase of $100 per full-time student to raise an estimated $435,000. The increase would take effect in the spring semester and would be prorated for part-time students.
Mary Washington University officials say the revenue primarily would go toward maintaining academic programs and for need-based financial aid. Full-time, in-state undergraduates currently are charged $7,112 annually in tuition and mandatory fees.
The school also is trimming spending for 2009-10 by more than $2 million in response to the state higher-education budget reductions announced in September. More than $1 million of the Mary Washington's cuts have been achieved by keeping vacant positions open, including teaching jobs. Other areas affected include funding for student programs and clubs.
Gov. Timothy Kaine is proposing cutting $196.8 million from general fund appropriations for Virginia's public colleges and universities in the upcoming two-year budget. An infusion of $91.5 million in federal stimulus money for the 2010 fiscal year reduces the net cuts to about $105 million.
Mary Washington officials say the university has seen a 32 percent, or $6.6 million, reduction in state funding since 2007. William & Mary says its 32 percent reduction since April 2008 amounts to $16.7 million. Other colleges and universities also face drops in state funding and are cutting spending accordingly.
Virginia Commonwealth University officials discussed a similar possibility but took no action, VCU spokeswoman Pam Lepley said Friday. The university expects to lose more than $15 million in state funding in the upcoming budget, and last week said it would eliminate 91 jobs through layoffs and attrition.
The Virginia Community College System recently approved a spring tuition increase of $7.30 per credit hour, which would add about $22 to the cost of a typical community college class.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
