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Wittenberg University students will again get a break from rising higher education costs as the university’s Board of Directors has voted to freeze tuition for the 2015-16 academic year.
It’s the third straight year the board has chosen to keep tuition, room and other fees the same, which means the roughly 1,800 traditional students on Wittenberg’s campus are still paying the same price that they would have paid in 2012-13.
The freeze, in addition to increased scholarships and other financial aid options, is a recognition by the university that families are still struggling post-recession, said Randy Green, Wittenberg’s executive director of financial aid.
“They’re ability to pay for college has just not rebounded,” Green said. “They’re concerned about the future costs as well.”
Several students on campus Monday said they didn’t really take future increases into account when looking at the cost of their college degree.
“That wasn’t actually something I considered. I looked at initial costs, but it didn’t occur to me at the time,” said Maria Symons, a sophomore English major. “I was definitely happy to hear that.”
Part- and full-time students currently pay about $1,200 per credit hour up to 12 hours, but can take up to 19 credit hours for the same price as 12, Green said.
The only cost that will go up for students next year is board fees for meals, because the university contracts its dining service through Sodexo and its expenses have increased.
“It’s harder for us to fully absorb that cost,” Green said.
The private Lutheran university has cut more than $5 million from its roughly $55 million budget, President Laurie Joyner told the Springfield News-Sun last month.
Cuts included eliminating 29 positions, renegotiating the university’s housekeeping contract and providing a smaller percentage to retirement funds for employees.
Making those cuts has allowed the board to keep tuition steady, Green said, which in turn will hopefully give prospective students confidence that the university is committed to affordability.
“The same way families are trying to make the most out of their dollar, we’re trying to provide the most benefit for the students out of their money,” Green said.
Wittenberg is also planning a $15-$20 million renovation of its athletic complex, but intends to pay for the entire project with donated funds.
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