March 6, 2024
Dear ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ students,Ìý
Last week, you received a message from ASÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ regarding a tuition protest. Since then,
many of you have reached out with your concerns about a potential tuition increase
mentioned in the ASÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ message, indicating some confusion about tuition next academic
year.Ìý
The first thing you need to know is that tuition will not be increasing in the fall
of 2024. The university works one year ahead on setting tuition rates. That means
tuition levels for the 2024-2025 school year have already been approved by the UA
Board of Regents. Tuition will remain unchanged next year.Ìý
I want you to know that I hear your concerns and am still listening. Your decision
to pursue higher education is a serious financial investment for you. ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ is committed
to providing affordable education to all. If you are struggling financially, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ also
has shorter-term resources to support you. If you need help this semester, the Office
of Rights, Compliance and Accountability has emergency scholarships available. For the fall semester, make sure you work with our Office of Financial Aid to access
all of the funding that is available to you, including filling out your FAFSA.Ìý
Looking ahead, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ has a clear process for tuition and fee decisions. That process
for the 2025-2026 academic year will begin shortly. Any tuition and fee proposals
for fall 2025 will not be considered by the Board of Regents until September 2024
and then again in November 2024.
Please review the timeline below. If you are interested, I encourage you to provide
input in this process. You can contact ASÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ to learn more about who your student representative is on relevant committees and
how you can best support them. As always, you can also reach out to me with any questions.Ìý
February - July 2024 Tuition discussions on the rate for the fall 2025 semester begin with the following
groups, all of which have student representatives:
- Tuition and Fee Committee
- Planning and Budget Committee
- Chancellor’s cabinet
The tuition-rate-setting strategy is also guided by expertise ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ receives from national
enrollment consultants, who consider several factors such as program demand, market
conditions, financial aid and affordability.
May 2024 The Tuition and Fee Committee makes a recommendation to the chancellor regarding any
tuition and fee rate changes for fall 2025.Ìý
August 2024Ìý If ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ is proposing a tuition rate change, that proposal is presented to the UA president
for consideration. The proposals are made in coordination with UAA and UAS.Ìý
September 2024 The UA president presents any tuition rate changes for each university to the Board
of Regents for discussion. The board accepts public testimony in advance of each of
its meetings.
September-October 2024Ìý The chancellor hosts an annual budget and tuition forum to solicit additional student,
faculty and staff feedback on proposed tuition changes.Ìý
November 2024Ìý The UA president and Board of Regents discuss and vote on tuition rates for the academic
year beginning in fall 2025.Ìý
Spring 2025 Adopted rates are published in the catalog specific to the following academic year.
Ìý
If you have any questions or want to know more about how to get involved, please contact
me at obguthrie@alaska.edu.Ìý
— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management
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