Students are getting ready for yet another tuition and fee increase for the 2006-2007 school year. Just last year, Prairie View adopted a fee increase and now, only one year later, preparations are under way for another increase.
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the Student Government Association hosted a Town Hall meeting to explain why the $17 increase is needed. Tuition will go from 2005-2006 cost of $54.50 per semester credit hour to $71.50.
In addition to the $17 tuition increase, there will also be a number of added and increased university fees. A $35 utility fee will be used to help pay for utility bills for buildings and an advisement center fee of $100 that will pay for freshman advisement services in University College.
Mary Lee Hodge, vice president for business affairs, was the speaker of the evening. Along with her presentation, she outlined all the proposed fees and their descriptions, a budget, and a comparison chart showing how Prairie View measures up to the tuition costs of learning institutions. President George Wright attributes the fee increases to the rising cost of education. Among the other Texas universities, Prairie View is still one of the more reasonable institutions, yet there is no guarantee that next year, students won’t be facing fee increases again.