After thoughtful deliberation and debate, the Ohio University Board of Trustees today approved a 3.5 percent increase to the Athens Campus instructional and general fees for winter and spring quarters.

Let me assure you that this was not an easy decision to make. As you know, keeping college affordable and increasing accessibility for students is a top priority at Ohio University, one that has shaped our strategic choices and guided our decisions. We also are grateful for the support of Gov. Ted Strickland, who has championed higher education during every round of state funding cuts.

However, the challenges faced by the state of Ohio are great and the final state budget enacted earlier this summer reflects a decrease in appropriations to higher education when compared with earlier proposals for the budget. To provide universities and colleges with some flexibility to respond to these changes, the biennial budget raised the cap on tuition and fee increases to 3.5 percent in fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2011.

The budget compromise also made changes in the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) program that will help some students and hurt others. At Ohio University, we are very concerned about how these changes will affect our neediest students.

The overall effect of these changes is that the projected State Share of Instruction (SSI) funds upon which we developed the university’s fiscal year 2010 budget was reduced by $2.2 million. At the same time, OCOG allocation for Ohio University’s neediest students fell by $1.7 million.

To be sure, Ohio University is not alone in seeking a tuition increase. A number of other Ohio colleges and universities, including Kent State, Youngstown State and Wright State, have either adopted or are recommending tuition increases for the current academic year.

Nevertheless, even with this tuition increase, Ohio University will remain a competitively priced institution of higher learning in the state. A full-time student at Ohio University will pay approximately $100 more per quarter.

I will continue to keep you apprised of developments as they occur. Thank you for your hard work and your commitment to Ohio University.

Cordially,

Roderick J. McDavis
President