State System board narrowly OKs tuition freeze if Wolf’s plan passes
Gov. Tom Wolf may have enlisted a new army in an uphill battle to secure passage of his first commonwealth budget — namely thousands of state university students and their families seeking rare tuition relief.
That's because the board overseeing the 14 state-owned universities voted its intent Thursday to freeze tuition this fall for the first time since 1998, provided the governor's double-digit boost in campus aid contained in his proposed spending plan passes the Legislature.
The State System of Higher Education’s board of governors also added a caveat — that any tuition level is still subject to final board determination at a later date.
The vote was 9-8, revealing sharp divisions within the board. Some said they thought a Wolf aide had, in effect, threatened the board a day earlier by calling support for a freeze “a test of accountability” and saying the governor could not continue pushing for such a large budget increase without it.
The $45.3 million, or 11 percent, increase would be the largest in State System history and the first in seven years. With potential for a similar jump the following year, the system could largely recoup deep cuts that have driven aid levels back to 1997-98 levels.
In a statement, Mr. Wolf praised the vote. “Students have borne the brunt of massive cuts over the last four years and today’s action is an important step in giving them a break from constantly rising college costs,” it read. “I am hopeful that the Legislature will step up and deliver on this investment in higher education ...”
A freeze in 2015-16 would keep base yearly in-state tuition at $6,820 across the 110,000-student system, including California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock universities in Western Pennsylvania. The freeze resolution was introduced by state Rep. Michael Hanna, D-Clinton, a board member.
The State System usually sets tuition in July, and some were uneasy voting early, citing uncertain campus costs and potential defeat of Mr. Wolf’s spending plan, which could leave them to either pull back the freeze as fall bills go out or make draconian program cuts.
They said early efforts to engage the governor were to no avail and expressed displeasure that tuition was now ensnared in a partisan fight over the proposed state budget. In part for that reason, his vote would be a "reluctant yes," said Ronald Henry, a board vice chairman who chairs its finance, administration and facilities committee.
Board chairman Guido Pichini, who voted no, did not like how members were treated. “Knowing that the governor hasn’t spoken to the board, I think that has really soured the board on this relationship,” he said.
He also said other areas of Mr. Wolf's proposed state budget would tax college students for certain items. He likened that to raising tuition.
But others voting yes said the board was being asked to freeze tuition only if it gets the full $45.3 million and that under previous administrations the system was pushed to curb tuition — even when absorbing deep funding cuts.
“I don’t understand why any of us would be arguing with the idea that we want to keep tuition as low as we can,” said state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks.
Another reluctant yes vote came from state Rep. Matthew Baker, R-Tioga. “I do not like the divisiveness,” he said. “This does not bode well for [us] working together.”
Both student board members voted no. But faculty union president Ken Mash, during the public comment period, said Mr. Wolf’s plan would significantly restore funding cuts that have shifted the cost burden to students who on average graduate $30,000 in debt.