Correction: This article changes the original headline and statement in the article that the Board of Governors raised tuition 5.9 percent. It in fact raised it 5.4 percent.
Wayne State’s Board of Governors unanimously voted today to raise undergraduate tuition rates.
According to the Board, federal stimulus money allocated by the state will subsidize the cost, meaning instate students will actually only pay 4.8 percent more for tuition. However, out of state students will have to pay the full 5.4 percent increase.
This is based on the assumption that the university will receive stimulus money at all. Nancy Barrett, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, said that while there are no guarantees, there has been indication that the university will receive money.
The state has already reduced its funding for higher education by 3 percent or $ 6.6 million.
The board claimed that raising the tuition prevents the laying off of hundreds of the university’s faculty and employees.
Compared to the other research universities in the state, Wayne State's tuition raise is lower than Michigan State University's (a projected 6.5 percent increase) and that of University of Michigan, which raised by 5.6 percent.
The Governors’ next meeting will be held on Aug. 26.
