Audio clip
OU President David Boren discusses possible tuition and fees increases
Tuition and mandatory fees will not increase more than 9 percent, OU President David Boren said at tuition student forum Wednesday afternoon in Beaird Lounge.
Boren said he spoke with lawmakers and Gov. Brad Henry to ensure that any budget cuts, increases in tuition and mandatory fees do not hinder the quality of education at OU for future years.
“We expect a budget cut, but when it comes to how high we will have to raise tuition, the Regents and I will not go any higher than 9 percent,” Boren said.
Though the current budget situation in Oklahoma is bad, it is nothing like other states’ budgets, Boren said to students.
In California, tuition and fees went up at least 33 percent in the middle of the semester in addition to courses being cut and many faculty being laid off, Boren said.
Two students of the small crowd in attendance questioned the transparency of OU’s financial situation since the tuition and fees discussion was scheduled during dead week.
“I regret having to wait this long to get the chance to talk to you about something that means so much to you,” Boren said. “The reason I waited so long was because I wasn’t and am still not sure of the final numbers that we will face next year.”
Boren said he will not know any specific tuition numbers until the Oklahoma Legislature completes budget negotiations with Henry.
OU received $7 million in stimulus funds from the state. These funds have helped keep tuition from increasing this year, Boren said.
Boren said he is concerned for the future of OU’s budget because of multiple cuts made within the OU administration and the depletion of stimulus funds, which will be used by July 1, 2011, the beginning of the 2012 fiscal year.
Boren said no matter what happens, tuition and mandatory fee increases will not be like anything that has happened in other states.
“We will not have double-digit tuition increases next year,” Boren said.
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mustafa 2 years ago
Hey! No double digit increase. Ain't that great!
matthewmurrayday 2 years ago
Then how come the athletic department ran a deficit in the late 1990s, through your fake "national championship" season of 2000?
You people are stupid liars. The athletic department TAKES AWAY money from the general fund. Google "How Boren is Wrecking OU Financially," and you'll see what I mean.
Until then, shut up.
soonerstaff 2 years ago
I can only hope that there's some room leftover for staff raises this year. I am a part-time graduate student in addition to being a full-time staff member here at OU, and we haven't received a raise in two years. Meanwhile, my tuition goes up, but my salary stays the same.
alaskaairborne 2 years ago
Actually, Boren said, "We're not going above nine percent as an outside possibility and I don't think we're going to get to nearly nine percent."
I think that's reasonable given the budget situation and the fact that there was no tuition increase last year. And, I have to give Boren some credit. He has come out to face the students when talking about tuition increases. And, he was really the driving force behind the statewide tuition freeze last year.
However, my fear is that some people at the university will quickly focus exclusively on keeping a tuition increase "below double digits" and try to push through another 9.7% or 9.9% increase. That seems to be the trend that OU has fallen into. And, if that happens again, it means that no real thought has been given to it. They've just used that range for the last ten years.
Unfortunately, that's not sustainable -- regardless of what our peers are doing in higher education. When you have higher education costs rising at a much faster rate than the overall economy based upon student debt, you're looking at a situation similar to the housing bubble.
THINKER 2 years ago
I wonder why Boren did not have a fancy graph for his salary compared to other presidents in the big twelve...probably because he is above the mean.
THINKER 2 years ago
thank you matthewmurrayday for your insightful account. But, it might be helpful to look at the budget before you comment on the budget. Athletics is a self sustained program...if you don't believe me go to the freedom of information office and decide for yourself. Also, 30 hours, wow slow down their big guy..that is a full courseload.Spoiled? I hardly consider a kid who pays for his own books, his own tuition, and his own housing spoiled. God forbide someone asks questions around here. Our administrators make a killing working here, so why should I not ask questions when they decide to raise tutition 9% after they have raised fess 9% the past two years.
justsomeguy13 2 years ago
Want to keep education a solid investment for both the state and the students? How about a tax break for OU students who sign contracts to the state of Oklahoma to live and work within its borders for X number of years.
From what I have seen, Oklahoma isn't benefiting from its college graduates as much as other states. Why? They leave the state to pursue jobs elsewhere. Thus, education isn't a priority for the state because a return isn't going to come from the investment.
So, by having an incentive program to keep students in state, we would increase the talent pool and make education a worthwhile endeavor.
I mentioned a tax break for student's who stay. This is one such incentive but there are countless others available too. Offer reduced tuition to out of state students who sign on to stay for a certain period of time. The University could even give out football season tickets in order to make staying worthwhile. The options are out there, we just need to make it happen. Ultimately, Oklahoma needs to value education and its future. Tuition hikes are inevitable, yet a coordinated effort between the state and the university to reduce the financial burden of all students would lead to a better state down the line because the talent is staying within the border.
JJanowiak 2 years ago
MatthewMurrayDay, the football program is self-supporting and actually pays a lump sum of cash to the university, not the other way around.
matthewmurrayday 2 years ago
Look, OU is already unaffordable for those who take 30 hours a year. A lot of the tuition paid to the university GOES TO THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM. It doesn't go to profs or classes or grants.
Bottom line: 99% of OU undergrads are so spoiled, they could stand to take a 25% increase in tuition. Here's an idea: Take some ENDOWMENT money, NOT TUITION money, and fix some of the faulty framework of GFOMS. Better yet, let some TAs who have to deal with spoiled Greek-life and athletic students CUTTING CLASS and BEING STUPID have some of the tuition money.
This isn't the university I thought I began attending in August.
Spoiled children.
irish2213 2 years ago
@matthewmurrayday, the athletic department is a completely different financial institution than the academic university, and actually the athletic department substidizes the unviersity, maybe you should rethink your comment
JWJ 2 years ago
None of your tuition or fees go to the football program. I don't know why people say that because it simply isn't true. The football program makes money that funds the rest of the athletics department.