Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

To stay competitive, UConn will raise tuition over next four years

  • by Caitlin Emma
  • December 19, 2011
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

Adam Scianna said that as an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut nine years ago, it was common to see multiple sections for one class, often with 20 to 30 students per section. Now, he works as a teaching assistant for one of the same classes he took as an undergrad — but he teaches one section with almost 200 students.

“This discussion should not be about the sticker price of a UConn education,” UConn President Susan Herbst said Monday. “We need more faculty to educate our students better, give them what they need, bring down class size, and bring up faculty-student ratio, but faculty are also the research brain power of this university.

“When you do not have strong faculty numbers, you invent less and you create less,” she said.

Scianna represents the Graduate Student Senate for UConn’s Board of Trustees. He endorsed a four-year tuition increase the board approved Monday. The four-year plan to raise tuition will target one of the university’s biggest problems: a lack of adequate staffing and the inability of many students to enroll in the classes they need.

Herbst, the school’s new chief, said she has her eye firmly on the university’s reputation and ranking. U.S. News and World Report ranked UConn No. 19 this year among the top 20 public universities in the country. Herbst said she intends to improve upon that ranking.

“We’re in the top 20, finally,” she said. “Let’s keep this up. I was not hired to be smug at 19.”

The plan, without an increase in state appropriations over the next four years, will increase tuition and fees through 2013-2016 each year, by 6 percent, 6.3 percent, 6.5 percent and 6.8 percent respectively. The increases will nearly double the cost of attending UConn in less than 12 years. The upside — almost 290 new faculty members.

Tuition and fees for an in-state student is currently $10,670. Under this plan, it could grow to $13,130 by 2016.

With an increase in state aid over the next four years, the tuition hikes will drop about half a percentage point for each year. But with major cuts to the state budget and to UConn’s funding this year, Herbst said the university has no choice but to raise tuition to stay competitive.

Herbst said she expects many of the new faculty to go to science, technology, engineering and math-related areas. Their research helps bring in the major grant money, she said. But she also acknowledged the liberal arts — for example, the need for more English teachers.

“The university that will cure cancer will be one where there are cancer researchers hired,” Herbst said. “The university that will invent the cleanest forms of energy will be the one where engineers are hired.”

UConn officials first mentioned the possibility of a tuition increase in mid-December. Herbst said she often had students in her office crying because they couldn’t get into the classes they needed.

The board Monday approved the four-year plan with no protesting students present, or really any students present, for that matter — finals ended Friday and the Board of Trustees meeting coincided with the last day of operational dorms. The majority of students went home for the holidays over the weekend.

A few speakers voiced disapproval with the timing of the meeting, but they still supported the tuition hikes.

“I would like to address my disappointment at the timing of this entire process,” said junior Sam Tracy, president of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG).

“While I acknowledge that the board is seeking to have tuition decided as early as possible in order to allow more families time to plan their financials, the timing of this discussion has prevented many students from learning about and voicing their opinions on the proposed increases.”

The town hall meetings to help students understand the plan took place during finals week, Tracy said, preventing many students from attending.

“Student involvement in the decision-making process should be a priority for the Board of Trustees,” he said.

But Herbst and board members urged the importance of passing the plan quickly to allow financial planning and a sense of predictability as high school students across the country receive their acceptance letters.

“To have predictability for four years is very unusual,” Herbst said. “Yeah, it may feel rushed, but we feel like it’s our responsibility to give people who are hearing about college acceptance right now, to give them time to plan.

“We worked with students as much as we could,” she said. “We stayed at the town hall meetings until they were out of questions. This is never easy, and there is no easy time for it.”

UConn spokesman Michael Kirk pointed out that UConn’s tuition increases follow tuition hikes at top public universities across the country. The percentage increases at UConn, however, are not the highest in the country, he said.

“It’s safe to assume that tuition at other schools will continue to rise as well, meaning UConn will undoubtedly remain about in the middle when it comes to cost among the top public universities,” Kirk said.

 

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caitlin Emma

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
‘It’s a nightmare:’ A growing number of seniors are unable to book vaccine appointments as problems mount
by Dave Altimari and Jenna Carlesso

The state acknowledged Friday in an email to local health workers that some residents are waiting days for a callback.

Panel recommends small, inflationary pay hike for state officials
by Keith M. Phaneuf

Connecticut's part-time legislature hasn't received a pay hike since 2001. The annual base-pay for senators and representatives is $28,000.

Police task force seeks wider applicant pool for watchdog role
by Kelan Lyons

The task force sent four recommendations — and two that didn't get unanimous approval— to lawmakers for the 2021 session.

Miguel Cardona, who are you?
by Ann Policelli Cronin

When I ask Connecticut teachers about Miguel Cardona, those who know him or have worked with him say that he is really nice guy who knows what the challenges in our classrooms are, knows how to help teachers to improve their teaching, and respects public schools. All good. But what is his vision for teaching and learning that he will bring to the U.S. Department of Education?

Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says
by Edward Marcus

J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Miguel Cardona, who are you?
by Ann Policelli Cronin

When I ask Connecticut teachers about Miguel Cardona, those who know him or have worked with him say that he is really nice guy who knows what the challenges in our classrooms are, knows how to help teachers to improve their teaching, and respects public schools. All good. But what is his vision for teaching and learning that he will bring to the U.S. Department of Education?

Opinion Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says
by Edward Marcus

J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state.

Opinion Connecticut’s $100 million college shell game
by Stephen Adair

The plan to consolidate the 12 community colleges in Connecticut into one college with 12 campuses is called “Students First,” which is ironic because it does not fund students first.  It funds a new administration in a new, statewide bureaucracy. The Board of Regents (BOR) and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system office […]

Opinion Inconsistent television captioning is a barrier to equal access
by Jeffrey Bravin and Barbara Cassin

Our world long ago entered the age of the 24-hour news cycle, and a full understanding of the “who, what, when, where and why” of the news is critical for deaf, deafblind and hard of hearing citizens. Yet, Connecticut’s inconsistent quality of television captioning locks our community out of the complete sense of what is happening.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO