Unbequeme Neuigkeiten

Fellow students,

On March 10th, the UConn Board of Trustees will determine tuition for the 2009–2010 academic year. This decision will affect all students; therefore, we want your voices to be heard. Please consider the following information, which is a list of options that the Board of Trustees will be reviewing regarding tuition increases:

• Option A: would be no tuition increase. It would require cuts that would likely result in approximately 290–310 layoffs. If tuition is not increased at all, UConn will have to close programs and cut services to students. The hours at the Library, Rec Center, Student Union, dining halls, museums and other venues would be sharply reduced and many students working at these facilities would lose their jobs. More classes would be moved to Fridays and weekends, fewer classes would be offered and they would be larger. The University would have to reduce financial aid and increase charges for things like parking and ticket prices to events.

• Option B: would be a tuition increase of 6.0 % (this is the standard amount that tuition has increased by annually over the past few years). This would amount to a $432 annual increase for resident students over the current tuition rates. It would require cuts that would likely result in approximately 150–170 layoffs. Programs and services would still be curtailed. Student jobs would still be lost. Classes would be fewer, bigger and offered at less convenient times and financial aid would still be cut.

• Option Ⅽ: would be a tuition increase of 8.67 %. This would amount to a $624 annual increase for resident students over the current tuition rates. It would likely result in the equivalent of approximately 80–100 lay-offs. It would save more jobs, programs and services. Financial aid would not have to be cut.

• Option Ⅾ: would be a tuition increase of 13.67 %. This would amount to a $984 annual increase for resident students over the current tuition rates. It would not entail any lay-offs. This would avoid the need to close down programs and services. Student jobs would not be eliminated. Financial aid would not have to be cut.

President Hogan has recommended an 8.67 % tuition increase (Option C, shown above) in order to save as many UConn programs as possible, while still keeping tuition affordable. He has asked for the support of the Student Government in this recommendation.

However, we at USG do not feel that we can responsibly support a tuition increase without first getting direct feedback from as many students as possible. It is our job to represent you, and we need to make sure we are doing what is in your best interest. In order to get direct feedback on the options for next year’s tuition, we have set up a poll, click the link below to take the poll: $url

Please complete the survey (it’s only ONE QUESTION) so that we can begin to understand which of these four options you, the students, are most comfortable with. We will be presenting the results of the poll to the administration and Board of Trustee’s at the begining of next month so please respond ASAP.

USG is also sponsoring a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday night, February 24th at 7p.m.-9p.m. in the Konover Auditorium (at the Dodd Center). President Hogan, UConn’s Chief Operating Officer Barry Feldman, and Vice President for Student Affairs John Saddlemire, along with other key figures will be on-hand to discuss the recent budget cuts and tuition with anyone who would like to attend.

This meeting will be a great opportunity to voice any opinions or questions you might have about the potential tuition increase. Please try to attend.

Ⅰ realize that these are difficult times for all of us, and Ⅰ thank you all for your time and effort.

– M… Z…

President of the Student Body

University of Connecticut

Undergraduate Student Government

2110 Hillside Road

Storrs, CT 06269