W&M says it will reverse 3% tuition increase for the 2020-21 school year
William & Mary’s Board of Visitors and the administration announced Thursday they intend to reverse the the 3% increase in tuition and fees for the 2020-21 school year that was approved in November, returning to the current level.
During a virtual executive committee meeting of the board, W&M President Katherine A. Rowe said the rollback in tuition and mandatory fees will be presented formally to the full board at its May 12 meeting for its consideration and vote.
“There is a consensus among board members (for the action),” college Rector John E. Littel said.
All the W&M board members participated in the electronic session even though many are not members of the executive committee.
“We do concur,” Little emphasized, noting that board members had individually discussed the possibility in light of the COVID-19 crisis.
Rowe added that the university’s financial staff had developed models regarding tuition and fee leveling, and the probability of no new state funding.
“(The rollback) is achievable and an important step to reduce the uncertainty for students and families,” she added.
The final action by the board in May would be for in-state and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students. The W&M fiscal year 2021 budget also will be approved in May, but as is can be modified through the year should the occasion arise, the previous accepted practice.
W&M is set to receive about $4 million in federal dollars under the coronavirus relief bill. Decisions must be made soon on how those dollars will be distributed, said Amy Sebring, vice president for finance and technology. The funds will be divided between student and family needs and the university itself.
Thus far, W&M has not had to layoff or furlough employees “and that continues to be a high priority,” Sebring said. There have been layoffs of contract workers when the college decided to close dining facilities. She stressed that revenue shortfalls have not affected the university’s operating budget, but have been sustained within the auxiliary enterprise system.
Board member Warren Buck asked what financial impact an additional number of students entering this fall would have on the budget. Rowe answered, “It’s just too early to say. The deadline for commitment to W&M is May 1. We will have more insight (for the board) at its May meeting.”
Rowe stressed in planning strategy for the university, “we intend to be together” on campus for classes in the fall, “assuming it is safe.” Campus life, however, may be changed. Sam Jones, senior vice president for finance and administration and cochairman of the Emergency Management Team, said W&M wants to ensure that students, faculty and staff “come back in the safest way possible.”
“What are the opportunities to minimize contact?” he asked, and shared thoughts including a four-day workweek for staff.
“As we come back to campus, we have some people who have to move around the campus. How do we protect them?” Jones asked. Those will be questions his team will need to answer in the future, he added.
Provost Peggy Agouris said, academically, the university “plans to take a fresh look at how we can become more efficient and responsive to the crisis.” A small academic team, one of five established by Rowe to work during the next four to five weeks, will examine the question: What makes a resilient curriculum?