Monday, Nov. 25, 2002
Gov. Minner Responds To UD Tuition Increase
Dover – Governor Ruth Ann Minner said Monday that she was surprised by the University of Delaware’s announcement to increase tuition midway though the school year.
“The university stated that this was a result of the $3.1 million cut in state funds that we made as part of our effort to reduce the $95 million deficit. But the possibility of a tuition increase was never raised to my budget director and we took this cut believing that it would not have an effect on services or tuition,” Gov. Minner said. “If I had known that a tuition increase was a possible result of the cut, I would have considered it in that context. But the university has indicated today that this increase results from more than just the October budget cut.”
Budget Director Jennifer W. Davis said that conversations with university administrators since the tuition increase was announced Monday morning have confirmed that there are other factors at work in the increase.
“In communication about the budget cut in October, I was told by UD that they would be able to replace the cut for the current fiscal year with ‘one-time sources of funding,’” Davis said, quoting a letter from UD President David Roselle. “We were made aware that this cut might create some difficulty if carried into the next budget year, but that decision has not been made yet. Dr. Roselle has told me today that the tuition increase has come because the university board anticipates the sluggish economic conditions will continue into the next budget year and because UD has a significant debt load due to capital construction.”
Gov. Minner has no control over UD tuition rates, which are set by the school’s board of trustees. Davis said Monday that neither Delaware State University nor Delaware Technical and Community College, which also took budget cuts, are planning to raise tuition mid-year at this time.
A copy of Dr. Roselle’s letter to the Budget Office submitting cuts with no mention of a tuition increase is attached
