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2004 SESSION

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HB 806 Higher educational institutions; ratios of in-state & out-of-state stud enroll., tuition adjustmts.

Introduced by: J. Chapman Petersen | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Ratios of in-state and out-of-state students; tuition adjustments. Requires the governing body of a four-year public institution of higher education to maintain a ratio of the in-state and out-of-state student population in each incoming freshman class that is not more than 25 percent out-of-state undergraduate students, or the percentage determined for the incoming freshman class in 2000, whichever is greater, beginning with the incoming freshman class in 2005. Out-of-state students on athletic scholarships are not included in calculations of out-of-state enrollments.

Institutions that adhere to these ratio requirements can then increase tuition and fee charges as they deem necessary and appropriate; any increases may be reviewed by the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV). The General Assembly will determine annually any increases of tuition and fees for institutions that do not adhere to the ratio requirements. The increase cannot exceed five percent annually.

Pursuant to various provisions in Title 23, individual boards of visitors are typically empowered to "fix, in their discretion, the rates charged...for tuition and fees and other necessary charges."

The 2003 Appropriation Act (Item 136 E (3)) directs boards of visitors to "(a) make every effort to achieve potential cost savings as opposed to tuition increases and (b) not increase the current proportion of nonresident undergraduate students if the institution's nonresident undergraduate enrollment exceeds 25 percent." Two-year institutions and VMI, Norfolk State, and Virginia State are exempt from this second requirement.

In addition, the 2003 budget authorized institutions to increase tuition by no more than five percent (Item 136 E (1)(b)). In setting increases, institutions are to consider, among other things, the consumer price index; in-state tuition charges of peer institutions; the "maximization of other revenues by setting tuition rates for out-of-state students, graduate students and first professional students at market rate or higher without adversely affecting the access of in-state students"; and "the impact of a tuition increase on the composition of the institution's applicant pool" (Item 136 E (2)).

According to SCHEV, the percentage of out-of-state students in fall 2001 headcount enrollment (not just the incoming freshman class) at all four-year public institutions was 21.9 percent. Out-of-state students comprised 4.2 percent of fall 2001 headcount enrollment at Christopher Newport University; 37.7 percent at the College of William and Mary; 13.8 percent at George Mason University; 29.1 percent at JMU; 4.4 percent at Longwood University; 25.9 percent at Mary Washington College; 28.6 percent at Norfolk State University; 17 percent at ODU; 12.1 percent at Radford University; 33.6 percent at UVa; 5.9 percent at the UVa's College at Wise; 6.7 percent at VCU; 49.4 percent at VMI; 31.7 percent at Virginia State University; and 30.7 percent at Virginia Tech.


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