CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Tuition and fees will increase at West Virginia University by nearly 10 percent this fall and two other state schools will experience similar spikes.
The Higher Education Policy Commission on Monday approved increases at WVU, West Virginia State University and WVU-Potomac State College.
“I must admit, I was very skeptical about the 10 percent increase before the meeting,” said Commissioner Dr. John Leon after hearing from WVU president Dr. Gordon Gee. “But I believe the group from WVU has made a compelling argument for it, and I’m impressed with the vision they’ve put forward in their argument.”
The commission voted 5-2 to approve a 9.7 percent increase in tuition and fees at WVU, a $672 increase over 2014-2015.
Tuition and fees will increase at Potomac State College by 8.1 percent after another 5-2 vote among the HEPC members. This fall, students will pay an additional $288.
In a 6-1 vote, the HEPC also favored a 7 percent tuition and fee hike at West Virginia State University—a $434 increase.
Commissioner Kay Goodwin opposed all three proposals, claiming she did not have enough information to approve the increases.
“Administrative costs still really, really concern me,” said Goodwin, the Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Education and the Arts. “It’s easy to give a percentage, but I’d love to see the numbers behind some of those percentages that are given.”
Institutions faced a 1.4% reduction in state support for 2016.
If increases are implemented, resources and support should increase as well, said Michael Martirano, HEPC member and State Superintendent of Schools.
“I’m hearing that. I feel we need to articulate that clearer to our customers which are our students and families who often times do not have those advocates, first generation, all the individuals who don’t understand, quite frankly, what college is and what it means.”
Gee explained a completion dean will be hired to head a new program designed to increase four-year graduation rates.
State code requires the HEPC to review the tuition and fee increases above 5 percent but the initial decisions are made by the individual school’s board of governors.
In a release following Monday’s meeting, commission Chair Dr. Bruce Berry said the three state institutions must continue to prove their efficiency.
“Our institutions recognize this challenge, and we know that part of what they plan to accomplish through additional tuition revenues is a deepened focus on student retention and completion,” Berry said. “Rest assured, the policy commission will tenaciously examine progress toward these promises.”