W&M Board of Visitors to receive public comment on tuition and fees March 28
University considering zero increase on tuition and fees for all new and returning in-state undergraduates
On March 28, 2019, the William & Mary Board of Visitors will host a public comment session on university’s budget priorities, including proposed tuition and fee ranges for the 2019-20 academic year (FY 2020).
The hearing will take place from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Tidewater B room of the Sadler Center, located at 200 Stadium Dr. in Williamsburg, Virginia. It will include a presentation by the administration followed by an opportunity for public comment to the Board. The public comment session comes in advance of the annual April meeting where the W&M Board of Visitors Board sets tuition, fee, room and board charges for the upcoming year and approves the associated operating budgets.
On Nov. 16, 2018, the Board of Visitors approved a resolution to maintain its four-year tuition guarantee for in-state undergraduate students. This resolution continued the William & Mary Promise as the operating model for the university. As a result, for FY 2020 continuing in-state undergraduates would see no increase in tuition. The Board also approved FY 2020 tuition for incoming in-state undergraduates at $18,375, with this rate also guaranteed not to increase for four-years.
Subsequent to the Board action, the 2019 Virginia General Assembly amended the 2018-20 Appropriations Act to include funds to moderate FY 2020 in-state undergraduate tuition increases at Virginia’s public institutions of higher education. Specifically, the Appropriations Act includes $1.45 million in state funding to be granted to William & Mary so long as tuition and mandatory Educational and General (E&G) fee charges for in-state undergraduate students are maintained at FY 2019 levels. While this funding requires approval by the governor, the Board is reconsidering its November tuition action given the incremental state funding.
The Commonwealth’s funding action has no impact on other FY 2020 tuition or non-E&G fees that may be approved by the Board of Visitors. Tuition and fees for out-of-state undergraduate students will reflect funding actions of the 2019 General Assembly, market conditions, and feedback provided to the Board during the public comment session.
Section 23.1-307 (D) of the Code of Virginia requires that 30 days prior to approval of each year's tuition and mandatory fees, the Board of Visitors of Virginia's higher education institutions announce the range of increase under consideration and the proposed use of any incremental revenue. At this point the Board is considering tuition and fee ranges as follows:
- For incoming in-state freshman and undergraduate transfer students, a tuition range of zero to 5.4 percent.
- For continuing in-state undergraduate students, a zero increase based on W&M’s four-year tuition guarantee.
- For incoming and continuing out-of-state undergraduate students, a tuition range of 2.5 to 3.5 percent.
- For mandatory fees applicable to all students, a combined range of 2 to 4 percent.
Revenue generated from these tuition and fee increases, in combination with state funding, other revenues, and reallocated funds, will likely be used to address personnel costs including salary increases for faculty and staff, need-based financial aid, debt service on facilities and institutional initiatives.
The April meeting of the Board will be held in the Board Room on the third floor of Blow Memorial Hall, located at 262 Richmond Rd. Additional information will be released next month in accordance with the university’s normal schedule of public meeting announcements.
In addition to participating in the public hearing, members of the public can comment on the proposed tuition and fee ranges via online form.