By Christina Smith
The University’s 7 percent tuition increase for the 2008-2009 academic year may not have had a personal impact on all students, but it definitely had an impact on their wallets.
According to Melissa Connolly, vice president for University Relations, the tuition price increases on average every academic year, generally due to the annual doubling of health care costs.
“One of the biggest costs the University has is its staff,” Connolly said. “When three-fourths of the budget goes toward the 11,000 faculty members, including their health care, tuition has to go up.”
Connolly added that the general rate of inflation, salary increases, energy costs and technology fees are also to blame for the rise in tuition.
While health care may be the number-one reason why tuition increases, it is not the reason designed to have the most impact. In fact, according to Connolly, the program which sees the most benefit from the tuition price increase is the carrying out of the University’s “Five Year Plan.”
According to Connolly, the University already began enacting the plan, which includes increasing the number of full-time faculty versus adjunct faculty, bringing in more student support personnel, adding technology ports across campus, recruiting national faculty experts and increasing retention rates for all students.
“So far the numbers and trends that we’re seeing are promising,” Connolly said. “More people come here, stay here and graduate from here.”
However, despite what Connolly said were positive changes to the University, some students simply cannot afford the increase.
“It’s like every semester, something goes up. It’s not even just tuition, Hofstra in general went up,” Michelle Henderson, a sophomore living on campus, said. “I’m broke.”
Even students who do not pay additional room and board fees are affected by the latest tuition increase. Chrystina Orlando, a junior living off campus in Westbury, is stressed out by the increasing tuition.
“My loans are getting higher now,” Orlando said. “But there’s really nothing I can do about it.”
Steve Shapiro, sophomore resident assistant in New Complex, admitted he really didn’t notice the “couple grand” increase in his bill because he was warned via e-mail first. As an RA, Shapiro does not pay for housing.
“The numbers were obviously different,” Shapiro added, “but between my scholarship and being an RA, it wasn’t really that significant.”
As for students who pay for their tuition through private institutional loans, Connolly said the University is closely watching the loan markets.
“We have not witnessed the credit crisis [at the University] yet,” Connolly said, “but the tuition department is really trying to keep it in mind as they balance the expenses and the budget.”
Any student who feels that they may be experiencing difficulties paying for school is encouraged to call Financial Aid as soon as possible.
Connolly explained that the University’s tuition increase is overall embedded in its mission to making the education experience here equal to the caliber of students who continue to apply for admission.
“It all balances out,” she said. “We’re trying to look at making better value while maintaining affordability.”
(Michael Kamens)