Author: caitlin-speaker

The cost of higher education is getting—what else?—higher. This time, via the plastic payment option. Paying by credit card involves an additional 2.75 percent convenience fee. Though that may seem like a small addition, the costs rack up when you are dealing with numbers like the cost of higher education. That additional fee has increased by $10.23 for in-state students and $56.98 for out-of-state students for the 2009-2010 academic year due to a 4 percent and 7 percent total tuition increase.

Since February 2008, UVA students have been able to pay tuitions online through Quik Pay@UVA using an e-check, which drafts money from checking accounts or credit cards.

For in-state students the 2.75 percent will add $265.98 to their $9,672 tuition costs, totaling $9,937. For out-of-state students it will add $870.98 to their $31,672 tuition costs, totaling $32,542.98.

According to MasterCard, one of the credit card companies accepted by QuikPay, many of their customers use credit cards to pay for tuition because the fees are often outweighed by the “significant benefits,” such as the rewards and ease of use.

Though Nelnet Business Solutions did not respond to inquiries, for many students and parents, this added fee deters them from using plastic despite the possible advantages.

Junior Allison Barger says the fee is the only reason her parents choose not to pay by credit card.

Barger’s mother, Anita Barger, says she would like to pay by credit card, but says, “I’m not going to pay an extra fee for points.” As a result, Anita Barger uses the e-check option to avoid the 2.75 percent.

Edith Mann, parent of senior Meredith Mann, had the same concern about the fee.

“I hate to think I’m paying for more than I need to,” she says.
Students and parents, however, told C-VILLE they understand some may choose to pay the extra fee.

“At the end of the day, it’s about getting the money in the right place to pay the bills,” says Anita Barger.

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UVA President John Casteen announced last week that the University will need to provide the Commonwealth with plans to cut an additional 5 to15 percent from the University’s state general fund tax appropriations—$19 million at most—by July 22. These cuts will come in addition to the $32 million that has already been cut in the past three years.

Some of those recent cuts show in the $2.25 billion budget the Board of Visitors approved for the upcoming fiscal year. In that budget, the state contribution to the University set a record for an all-time low—6.9 percent. The Academic Division’s budget is smaller than last year for the first time in “recent history.” Also in that budget, the University is moving into its second year of a general freeze on faculty and staff salaries as well as new hires.

Last year, the UVA administration used retirements, routine turnover and transfers to remove more than 100 positions. Layoffs, however, are still being avoided.

Casteen explained that he would only resort to layoffs “after all rational and all other remedies have failed,” because, in Casteen’s opinion, they are “bad logic” for higher education institutions and end up costing universities more money than they might save.
In order to put some cost-reducing plans into action, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Leonard Sandridge met with University vice presidents to explain the steps that need to be taken immediately.

First, the University must avoid new hires. Though Casteen said the University is committed to its core academic and support functions among others, UVA must use reassignments and consolidations of duties as much as possible.

“Every new vacancy is now an opportunity to find innovative ways to do the work without filling the vacancy,” Casteen said.

Second, the University must identify non-core services that can be eliminated.
Third, UVA must defer discretionary spending, eliminate non-essential travel, and encourage conference calls in place of meetings that would require travel.

Though it will not be clear exactly how much money these immediate plans will save until July 22, with these steps along with a search for gifts throughout the summer and fall, Casteen believes UVA will be better able than most to deal with these cuts for two reasons: First, UVA’s administration has been careful to invest in only what it thinks it can get the best return from and by predicting and controlling downturns before they are announced.

Second, UVA uses its tuition funds, state funds, patient fees that cover the entire cost of care, endowment and ticket sales, among other sources of revenue, to pay for the cost of running the University.

In the long-term, Casteen believes these cuts with make the University work to self-sufficient and efficient, but until that time, University officials are focused on attracting non-state revenue and curtailing spending in every possible way.

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Of the 249 cases of swine flu in Virginia, 2 percent, or five total have been in the Thomas Jefferson health region, which includes Greene, Fluvanna, Albemarle, Nelson and Louisa counties. Two have been UVA employees, and Marge Sidebottom, University director of emergency preparedness, says she expects there to be more.

So, as the fall approaches and Charlottesville becomes congested with students, UVA officials are preparing for the possible increase of swine flu cases.

“We are sharing the right information and recognizing that there is influenza in the community,” says Sidebottom.

A week ago, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Leonard Sandridge notified the University community about the outbreak of swine flu in a “small group” of UVA employees. He also addressed how to prevent transmission and recognize infection.
Though individuals can help to limit the virus’ spread, a pandemic is still possible, and the University is preparing itself, says Sidebottom.

“We are following a plan we have had in place for a couple of years and this is an opportunity for us to take a look at that plan,” she says.

In the case of pandemic, the emergency plan discusses issues such as evacuation, sending non-infected students home, isolating the ill and people who could not go home and how to protect the University’s workforce, Sidebottom says.

Meanwhile, the newest plans remain a work in progress, still in the hands of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Sidebottom says UVA and the Centers for Disease Control are encouraging people to follow “good infection control techniques”—common sense things like covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze and getting appropriate treatment for flu-like symptoms.

Though she is sure the University has a very good emergency plan in the event of a pandemic, Sidebottom says the Virginia Department of Emergency Management will notify her office in the next few weeks about any necessary changes to it.

C-VILLE welcomes news tips from readers. Send them to news@c-ville.com.