Collegiate Times

The State Council for Higher Education for Virginia recently recommended that all public universities and colleges in the state be required to set aside between 5 percent and 30 percent of tuition increases specifically for need-based financial aid. This comes at a time when many are worried about the effects that the dwindling economy may have on the ability of several students to pursue higher education. It may even affect current students' ability to stay in school.

A copy of the report was sent to several legislators, including Sen. John S. Edwards and Delegate James M. Shuler, both of the Virginia General Assembly. Neither could be reached for comment on this matter by press time. The report was also sent to committee staff members and several college presidents and provosts across the nation.

SCHEV does not make laws or formulate bills, only provides recommendations that may be used to influence potential pieces of legislation that are passed concerning education in the state.

"The report merely reflects the recommendations of the Council. It is not a legislative bill, nor has related legislation been introduced this session (in the General Assembly)," said Kathleen Kincheloe, SCHEV spokeswoman.

"We are a coordinating board, not a governing board. The General Assembly makes decisions for all the schools in the systems, but here in Virginia it is very different," Kincheloe said. "As a coordinating board, we help make recommendations but we don't enforce those or have the authority to tell the public institutions what to do. We advocate for autonomy."

Back in January of 2007, SCHEV Chairman Whittington W. Clement decided to have a series of policy briefings of various aspects, and one was on access. Tech's Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid Barry Simmons also helped write some of the recommendation.

The document states that public institutions should consider the impact a possible tuition increase could have on any student, current or prospective, especially those in the lower income quartile. That is why it is directed toward need-based financial aid. An increase mid-semester, or even mid-year, could hurt millions of students across the nation.

"The council knows with budget cuts looming, schools will be forced to raise tuition. Our concern is that students attending will still be able to once that happens," Kincheloe said.

A semester of in-state undergraduate tuition for the 2008-09 year at Tech is $4,099, up from $3,698 in 2007. Out-of-state tuition rose to $10,412 from $9,887 between 2008 and 2007.

Tech has already responded to rising tuition. To assist students, Tech recently created an emergency $500,000 financial aid fund, available to eligible undergraduate students whose families experience dramatic financial change.

SCHEV's staff worked on the report in conjunction with an ad hoc affordability committee. The council made a few changes during approval, and it was then finalized and sent to various institutions. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine appointed many who worked on the recommendation.

Just because this recommendation has been made doesn't mean that schools have to follow it or that it will even become law eventually. Although many schools already have initiatives in place to help shore up costs for those who use need-based financial aid, it is still literature that many hope to see become law, if necessary.

"What I think they're hoping to do with this report is to provide some framework for policy makers to incorporate into their policies and legislation," Simmons said. "I don't see anything on the horizon right now, as of today, in the General Assembly that incorporates that. "

However, it is too early in the fiscal year to be able to tell whether those kinds of measures even need to take place, or whether they will be introduced into bills at the state level.

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