BY JEFF BRANSCOME
University of Mary Washington undergraduates will pay $100 more in tuition for the spring semester.
UMW's board of visitors yesterday unanimously approved a $100 midyear tuition increase to help offset state budget cuts. It's the second midyear tuition increase since 2002, when the Fredericksburg university approved a $255 increase.
Graduate and part-time students will pay, respectively, $12 and $8 more per credit hour.
The College of William & Mary's governing body also approved a midyear tuition increase of $300 yesterday.
UMW Executive Vice President Rick Hurley said at a meeting Thursday that at least five colleges are considering increases. For Mary Washington, he said, "I think the big driver is the uncertainty coming down the road."
He mentioned the possibility of additional budget cuts or of the General Assembly putting caps on tuition increases.
Gov. Tim Kaine has proposed 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 dollars for the 2010 fiscal year reduces the net reductions to about $105 million.
UMW board of visitors member Russell Roberts called the increase a "reflection of the unfortunate times in which we find ourselves."
The additional revenue would amount to $435,000 and mostly be used in the spring for one-time expenses such as computers, Hurley said. The university will also set aside $25,000 for need-based financial aid, which means students with the most need won't be impacted by the increase, he said.
In subsequent years, the university will use the additional revenue for instruction, UMW President Judy Hample said. "The priority is going to be for faculty positions," she said.
UMW is saving about $1 million by not filling vacancies, including seven professor positions. Other reductions involve funding for campus clubs and administrative departments.
The school recently detailed plans to trim its 2009-10 spending plan by almost $2 million in the wake of state budget reductions announced by the governor in September.
UMW has been hit with $6.6 million in state budget cuts over the past three years.
In-state tuition and fees for full-time students who live off campus will be $7,212 annually as of January, 6.5 percent more than last academic year.
UMW received $2.4 million in stimulus funds this year to mitigate tuition increases. It will get the same amount next year, but the money expires after that.
Hurley has said administrators didn't want to raise tuition too much after receiving federal money to keep costs down.
Student Government Association President Samantha Miller said at Thursday's meeting that students don't like the idea of a tuition increase, but understand the need. Many don't yet know of it, she said.
"If $100 is going to help our education," Miller said, she'd rather it be "$100 now to do this than $1,000 in the future."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com