The Concordian

Tuition will raise 8.67 percent next semester for Concord University students, a total of $730.

The rate increases that were voted on were 4 percent, 6.4 percent, 8.67 percent, and 10.67 percent.  The third highest amount was chosen.

Akeya Carter-Bozman, SGA Vice President elect and current BOG representative, says the university is preparing for a five percent budget cutback.  This cutback has not been put into effect yet, but Dr. Aloia is preparing for it.

She says the five percent cutback would take $500,000 away from the university budget.  Just to stay afloat, tuition would have had to be raised by 6 percent.  The 8.67 percent increase left Concord with a surplus of $250,000.  However, the university’s utilities went up by $270,000 this year.

“Dr. Aloia said his number one priority would be to help those students impacted by the tuition raise,” Bozman said.  “My only problem with that is during most of the meeting, he talked about how the classified staff was not at their proper pay step.”

Classified staff are still on the 2001 pay scale, which is a state mandated scale.

“I sympathize with them because everybody should be paid their full wages, but does the increase always have to come on the backs of the students?” Bozman said.  “I was very upset in the meeting.  Every year the board says they have to look for alternative sources, but where are they?”

She discussed the fact that many scholarships and grants are only allotted for a four-year time period.  There are many students who cannot graduate on time due to lack of seats available in classrooms or classes that aren’t taught every semester.  This causes students to enter fifth-year senior status and those grants and scholarships no longer apply, leaving them to pay whatever their financial aid doesn’t cover.

Award letters have already gone out to students for next semester, but those totals were figured with the current tuition.  With the increase, students will have to add 8.67 percent to that total.

She says her heart goes out to non-traditional students who face this tuition increase.  “They have children and a household they’re trying to take care of and then the university comes in and asks them for more money on top of the money they already owe.”

Dr. Aloia has proposed “Financial Aid Fridays” every Friday at 5 p.m. in the Dorothy Bolton room for the rest of the school year in which the complexities of financial aid will be discussed.

“I really do believe he is thinking in the right place.  His heart is in the right place with this.  But where are we supposed to get the money from?  Will the excess money from students who are receiving a substantial amount in check change be enough to cover the rest of the students?” Bozman asks.

Last year, tuition was raised a little under 4 percent and a student rally was held.  Over the last three years, it has increased by a total of 17.37 percent.

Bozman says student voices are being overlooked.  Unlike last year, students were not allowed to speak during the board meeting.  Only members of the board were permitted to speak. Bozman does not want to see another student rally, but a more professional way of dealing with the situation. “A rally only causes anger and animosity between the university. If we come together as a student body and agree on common issues, we can keep it student oriented.  We are one common bond.  Without us, who are they going to teach?  Who will sleep in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, and study in the library?” President elect Jeffrey Yeager says he understands the circumstances, but he is not happy with the tuition increase.

“I am not pleased that the Board of Governors raised the tuition because it puts an extra strain on the students who work hard who have to take loans or work through college in order to pay for the tuition,” Yeager said.  “I am also not pleased because a board member from the classified staff, Amy Pitzer, wanted to raise the tuition by over 9 percent and stated that the classified staff is fine with it.  It’s quite easy to say you’re fine with a tuition raise if the raise does not come out of your own pocket.  I understand that the classified staff is severely underpaid, but raising tuition is a catch 22 situation in order to help them.”

Yeager says he plans to work closely with Dr. Aloia to make sure this new revenue is going toward student life on campus.  He hopes to see facilities become more ADA compliant, to ensure money goes to good use, and to make sure students know where their money is going.

“My administration plans on holding joint cabinet sessions with Dr. Aloia’s administration in order to find alternative means of funding beyond tuition.  This will be our main agenda for the 2009-10 year,” Yeager said.

“I know that students will feel angry about the tuition increase, and they have good reason to be mad.  By crunching the numbers and finding new ways of gaining money, we can only hope that the increase is not as large next year.  These are tough times for everyone, but I will work hard to insure that better times are just over the horizon.”

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