02/06/2005
Rell calls for tuition freeze at state colleges, universities
The Herald Press

Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced Saturday that freezing tuitions for state colleges and universities will be part of her budget proposal to be introduced Wednesday.
The governor wishes to hold tuition charges at current levels for the academic year that begins next fall, which will effect the University of Connecticut, the four Connecticut State University campuses and the state’s 12 community-technical colleges.

Rell wants the state college and university systems to use unspent funds accumulated last year to replace the revenue they would have received from tuition increases. The unspent funds total almost $50 million between the three college systems --$26.3 million at the University of Connecticut; $13.9 million in the CSU system; and $9.8 million in the community-technical colleges.

"It is time to give Connecticut’s families a break from constant tuition increases," Rell said in a statement. "We can not keep asking our students to pay more, year after year, to obtain the education they need to succeed."

Rell said that tuition and fees at UConn run $7,490 a year.

"Ten years ago, these costs were just $4,712," she said, which is a 59 percent increase. "The University of Connecticut is the ninth most-expensive state university."

Rell said tuition and fees have increased by 82 percent in the last ten years, and now average about $5,611 at Eastern, Southern, Central and Western.

The state’s community-technical colleges have increased 58 percent in the last ten years, now at $2,406.


©The Herald 2005