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TOP STORIES
TuesdayFebruary92010



x47
Students say push for tuition freeze not enough
1/28/2009 11:08 AM
By: Jennifer Borget

Students at the University of Texas.  
Andy Jones is a student at the University of Texas and a member of the University Democrats who is passionate about decreasing tuition.

"I really like finally someone is saying tuition is too high and someone needs to do something about it," he said.

More Information
Texas Permanent School Fund
More Information

Texas Education Agency explanation of Texas Permanent School Fund

The Permanent School Fund of Texas Progress Report: Legislative Proposals, Fund Management and Investments (From the Texas Public Policy Foundation)

Texas Permanent School Fund: It’s written in the state constitution – Article 7, Section 5

The price tag for a UT undergraduate student is more than $4,000 per semester and that's not including fees or books. Jones said the cost is consistently rising too and a freeze certainly alleviates the financial strain, but Jones said it's not enough.

"Someone needs to go a step further because you know Governor Perry is saying 'let's freeze tuition … let's lock in your tuition rate and it's good for all four years.' But when you're paying $6,000 your freshman year … that's $6,000 every semester for all four years," he said.

That's not a price that's appealing to many UT students. Just ask undergraduate student Jeremy Yeger.
More Information
For more information
More Information

Tuition freeze-related news/reaction across Texas:

Tech chancellor pleased with Perry’s call for tuition freeze
(Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Tuition freeze up for debate (The Eagle, Bryan-College Station)

Other information:

Cost of tuition nationally compared to the University of Texas-Austin
(www.utexas.edu)

Fast Web College Gold: Tuition Freezes, Tuition Cuts and Level Tuition -- a glossary of terms and information about the topics.

"The rate of rise has just been astronomical lately," he said.

That spike in tuition rates he's referring to goes back to 2003 when the Texas Legislature passed a bill that allowed public universities to set different tuition rates with no upper limit on the amount of designated tuition that a university may charge.

"Even last semester to this semester – I think my tuition rate went up a couple hundred dollars for me specifically," Yeger said.

So while a tuition freeze may provide a solution to that problem, Senator Kirk Watson said there are other concerns.

"That doesn't take into account a lot of the people I represent who are working and who can't complete their education in four years and then have to pay higher fees," he said.
 WATCH THE VIDEO
More Information
Freezing tuition

Gov. Perry is pushing for a tuition freeze and many students say it will help, but lawmakers need to go the extra mile to reduce costs.





So while most will agree that it's a nice gesture, students like Yeger – who have younger siblings wanting to attend UT – hope there will be a more permanent fix in the future.

The University of Texas Democrats and the University of Texas College Republicans are joining forces to have a meeting about tuition relief for all students. For more about the meeting, go here.

More Information
Related News
More Information

Texas News:
-Perry seeks tuition freeze, tax reform in State of State speech, Houston Chronicle, Jan. 27.

National News:
-Want to stimulate the economy? Forgive student debt, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Jan. 28.
-The Recession Hits College Campuses, U.S. News and World Report, Jan. 27.
-Eroding Endowments Spur College Cuts, CBS News, Jan. 27.
-Data Show College Endowments Loss Is Worst Drop Since ’70s , New York Times, Jan. 26.



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