The Wayne State University Board of Governors preliminarily approved a 2006 General Fund Budget of $473.8 million at its regular meeting July 20. The budget includes state appropriations of $214.3 million and an 18.5 percent increase in tuition for all students. Also included in the proposed budget is a $6.6 million increase in student financial aid to offset tuition differences for students in need.

This amount includes an additional $2 million allocation, which is the first time in recent history that funding for financial aid has exceeded the equivalent percentage increase in tuition.

“Without a major tuition increase, we can no longer maintain our academic programs and services to students,” said Nancy Barrett, Wayne State University provost and senior vice president. “We have been serving many more students with fewer dollars – a trend that must stop,” Barrett added.

The university has addressed the cycle of declining state appropriations, totaling nearly $40 million over the last four years, with significant cuts in operating costs, programs and part-time faculty, which has impacted services to students. “Our students have reported difficulties finding available open classes and enduring long waits to see their advisors,” Barrett said. “These tight budget conditions simply cannot continue – our students must be assured that their services and quality academic programming will not be disrupted.”

During the past two years Wayne State’s enrollment has increased by 2,000 students, and is expected to increase even more this fall – a trend, Barrett says, that requires additional funding to meet the needs of the growing student population.

For the academic year 2005-2006, the new tuition rates amount to an increase in the per-credit-hour rate for Michigan resident freshmen and sophomores from $159.80 to $189.40. For resident juniors, seniors and post-bachelor’s, tuition will increase from $188.40 to $223.30 and graduate students from $284.90 to $337.60.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.

Contact: Cheryl Yurkovich
Voice: (313) 577-2150
Fax: (313) 577-8154
E-Mail: c.yurkovich@wayne.edu