Tuition Increases Will Serve to Support Student Success

Last week, the Board of Visitors adopted the 2011-2012 tuition and fee schedule and approved a 5.7 percent increase for in-state undergraduate students.

I thought it was important to share with you the funding and cost landscape in which the decision was made and how the additional funds will be invested in bettering the educational experience at ODU.

Combined with comprehensive fees, total tuition costs for in-state undergraduate students will be $8,144 for 30 credit hours, an overall increase of 5.7 percent. In-state graduate students will pay $9,350 for 24 credit hours, an overall increase of 5.9 percent. Out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students will see tuition and comprehensive fees rise by 6.3 percent, to $22,484, and 6.4 percent, to $23,318, respectively.

Old Dominion administrators worked diligently to keep tuition increases as low as possible and believe ODU will continue to have among the lowest increases - and lowest tuition - in the state, as we have had for the past decade.

Our university has seen a reduction of $25 million in state funds in the last few years, and federal support from economic stimulus funds will end next year. While no tuition increase is desirable, we cannot ignore the impact that reduced funding has on our ability to offer classes, hire faculty and support student learning.

The additional funds will be used to boost our student financial aid and on-campus jobs for students, and to hire additional faculty in STEM-related (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines. Additionally, it will be invested in student success and retention efforts, public safety, technology, infrastructure and student health services. We will also be expanding our outreach and offerings in distance learning and at our higher education centers.

I would like to note that Governor Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly acknowledged ODU's good work by including $12.6 million in the 2011-2012 budget for the university. Although we remain the lowest base-funded institution in the commonwealth at 80 percent, this infusion of funds enabled us to keep our tuition increase as low as possible. We all owe a debt of thanks to the governor and legislature for helping us in our efforts to continue offering rigorous, but affordable, education.

In closing, I want to assure you that we will continue to work for additional sources of funding so that we may continue to keep increases as moderate as possible. Moreover, I pledge that those increases will be reinvested into programs and opportunities that support student learning and success.