Mathew Biadun | Staff Writer
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The Board of Regents moved one step closer on Wednesday to increasing tuition rates across Connecticut universities. The BoR oversees CCSU, ECSU, SCSU, WCSU, Charter Oak, and all community colleges in Connecticut. It controls tuition rates at all of these institutions. On the sixth of December, the BoR’s Finance and Infrastructure Committee voted to approve proposed tuition increases.
The tuition increases vary in their specifics across each institution. More broadly, the Board desires a 5% increase in tuition across each. What would that look like for Eastern? Well, it would be a price-hike of 4.8% ($636) for in-state commuters, and 3.5% ($1,014) for in-state residential students. There will also be two new fees aimed at specific departments; a fee for using undergrad nursing labs, and one for individualized music lessons.
The Board of Regents cited looming deficits as the reason for the increases. All institutions were facing a combined-expected deficit upwards of 140 million dollars. The price hikes were expected, as tuition has been rising not only in Connecticut (UConn also recently raised its tuition) but also across the country. The state of Connecticut has tried to help aid the state colleges, such as covering the costs for retired staff, but this has been insufficient to offset other costs.
The change was not unanimously supported. David Blitz, a member of the Board, said; "It seems to me that it's not the students who should be paying for that, in terms of this fee increase, but additional reserve funds should be used to offset a good part of that fiscal year '25 budget.” Mayor of New Britain, where CCSU is located, and Board Member Erin Stewart also voted against the bill.
Not all hope is lost. The at-large Board of Regents must itself approve the tuition increases, and will vote on the matter on the 14th. Many staff members across CSCU colleges have called for the state governor or other lawmakers to stop the increases. However Governor Lamont, who supported raising UConn’s tuition by 19%, seems unlikely to oppose this 5% increase. In a current environment where schools suffer to break even amidst lower enrollment and a wobbly economic situation, the price hike seems likely to pass.
Bibliography
“Bor - Finance, Dec 6, 2023.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Dec. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTn4J_2-4Zo.
Christine Stuart, Hugh McQuaid. “UConn President, Students Balk at Lamont’s Budget.” CT News Junkie, 6 Oct. 2023, ctnewsjunkie.com/2023/02/09/uconn-president-students-balk-at-lamonts-budget/.
“Tuition at CT State College and Universities Is Set to Increase.” NBC Connecticut, NBC Connecticut, 7 Dec. 2023, www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/tuition-at-ct-state-college-and-universities-is-set-to-increase/3166125/#:~:text=The%20Board%20of%20Regents%20approved,a%20projected %20%24140%20million%20deficit.
Recording of the Meeting, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTn4J_2-4Zo