Tuition freeze is good, tuition cuts are better

Higher education is one of the many sectors blindsided by the coronavirus pandemic — campuses emptied of students, classes went online and economic fallout for families puts enrollment on shaky ground. Some colleges and universities around the country are lowering tuition to address students’ new fiscal realities. But at the University of Massachusetts, a price break is not on the syllabus.

UMass President Martin Meehan is recommending that undergraduate tuition for the upcoming academic year be frozen at the current level.

“During this time of stress and uncertainty for our students and their families, we need to keep our high-quality programs and the benefits of a UMass degree as accessible and affordable as possible,” Meehan said in a statement.

UMass campuses have set up emergency funds for students and reimbursed $65 million in room and board fees after health concerns closed residence halls. They also distributing the funding received through the CARES Act for technology, housing, child care and transportation.

Laudable moves — but why not take a cue from Southern New Hampshire University and cut prices? The private school announced it would “accelerate” a 61% reduction of its annual tuition, cutting it to $10,000.

A cost-cutting move like that could be the difference between a family being able to send their child to college or not. At UMass, the current in-state tuition for undergraduates is $16,784, for out-of-state students, $36,763. That doesn’t cover room and board.

While it’s nice that UMass isn’t raising its tuition, the financial reality for many students going into the fall is a far cry from what it was at the beginning of the year.

The same can be said for UMass — COVID-19 added up to a $40 million budget deficit for FY20. But cutting tuition would have a huge impact on students who are struggling financially — and attract those who might otherwise take the year (or more) off until their fiscal situation improves.

And while money doesn’t grow on trees, it does line pockets, especially for some UMass administrators.

Meehan earned $682,270 last year. The University’s Medical School chancellor and senior vice president of health sciences, Michael Collins, earned $1.096 million, while dean of UMass Medical School Terence Flotte, who is also provost and executive deputy chancellor, snagged $1.076 million.

In response to the pandemic, Meehan’s central offices are furloughing 168 people, and 1,000 more furloughs are being spread over the campuses. Nonunion workers and administrators will be furloughed for five to 10 days.

Meehan boasts the fifth-highest salary in the state, and it boils down to $2,223 a day. As of May 3, he had taken three furlough days, which adds up to $7,869. He expects to take more.

No one likes to see their salary take a hit, but that three-day furlough savings for Meehan is a little over half a year’s tuition for an in-state student.

“To whom much is given, much will be required” — that’s a favorite phrase of college commencement speeches, and it applies not just to new grads heading into the world.

UMass and its students are hurting — but some are feeling the hurt more deeply. It’s time for its mega-salaried leaders to dig deeper for the cause.