ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 15, 1996 TAG: 9604150064
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: Landmark News Service
The University of Virginia Board of Visitors has approved the smallest increase in tuition, fees, and room and board in at least 25 years.
The annual tuition-and-fee total will increase 0.7 percent, from $4,614 to $4,648, for in-state undergraduates.
UVa was one of three state universities last week to approve small or no increases in tuition and fees for the 1996-97 school year.
At the College of William and Mary, board members approved a 1 percent increase in tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates, from $4,712 to $4,758. Old Dominion University in Norfolk announced an 0.7 percent tuition-and-fee increase.
The universities' actions follow the General Assembly's mandate that colleges not increase tuition for Virginia undergraduates in the next two years. Legislators, however, did not limit increases for fees, room and board or tuition for graduate and out-of-state students.
Gov. George Allen has said he will try to have the tuition freeze extended through 2000 - a response to the fact that Virginia has the second-highest in-state tuition in the country. Only Vermont's is higher.
The boards of visitors at Virginia Tech and Radford University have frozen tuition for 1996-97. The State Board for Community Colleges also has approved holding tuition rates steady next year for the state's 23 two-year colleges.
Tuition and fees for out-of-state undergraduates will increase 3.1 percent at UVa - from $14,006 to $14,434 - and 2.5 percent at William and Mary - from $12,580 to $12,900.
For UVa's in-state undergraduates, the total package - including room and board - will rise 1.8 percent, to $8,610. At William and Mary, that number will go up 2.9 percent, to $9,376.
``Over the years, we've tried to keep room and board very competitive because the tuition is very high,'' said Leonard W. Sandridge Jr., UVa's executive vice president. ``But we know parents look at the entire package.''
Elaine and Mike Burgess of Midlothian were touring the campus Friday with their son, Derek, a prospective student. They also liked what the board did.
``Compared to what some of the other schools are charging, and it's gotten to about $30,000 out of state, it's a good value,'' Mike Burgess said.
At William and Mary, the fee increase will mostly be used for $3.7 million in improvements to the campus technology system.
``We will see much greater use of the computer in course work both inside and outside of the classroom," said the college's provost, Gillian Cell. "The college will have its own video channels, for example, which will enable faculty to show films outside of class, and use the time in class for discussion.''
At UVa, law and business-school students will pay surcharges, in addition to the usual tuition and fees, to help raise money for both professional schools.
Annual tuition and fees for first-year in-state law students will go up 2.5 percent, to $8,180. In addition, they will pay a $3,000 surcharge.
For Virginians in the Darden Graduate Business School, tuition and fees also will rise 2.5 percent, to $9,448.
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