W&M to host Oct. 22 public hearing on tuition
The William & Mary Board of Visitors will host a public hearing Oct. 22, 2019 on the university’s budget and finances, including proposed tuition for incoming in-state undergraduate students entering in Fall 2020. Consistent with the William & Mary Promise, tuition for current in-state, undergraduate students will not increase for the 2020-21 academic year.
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 boards of visitors of Virginia's higher education institutions announce the range of increase under consideration, the proposed use of any incremental revenue and allow for public comment. William & Mary’s Board of Visitors approved guidelines for receiving public comment at its September 2019 meeting.
The hearing will take place in Chesapeake B of the Sadler Center, located at 200 Stadium Drive in Williamsburg, Va., from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. It will include a presentation by the administration, and also time for comments from the general public. In addition to participating in the public hearing, members of the public can also comment on the proposed tuition range via an online form.
Public comments will be shared with the Board of Visitors in advance of its meeting to consider tuition for incoming in-state students. Consistent with past practice, the Board intends to set the tuition rate for incoming in-state freshman and undergraduate transfer students admitted to the university for the 2020-21 academic year at its Nov. 22, 2019 meeting.
In September, the Board unanimously endorsed the university’s six-year plan, which includes a modified tuition model beginning with the entering, in-state class in fall 2020 that is designed to reduce the rate of growth in tuition, maintain predictability and simplify the planning process for Virginia families.
For incoming in-state freshman and undergraduate transfer students, the Board will consider tuition increases ranging from 0% to 3% consistent with the recently approved Six-Year Plan. Once set, tuition for the entering in-state class will be guaranteed to increase by no more than 3% annually.
Revenue generated from this tuition increase, in combination with other revenues and reallocated funds, will likely be used to address personnel costs, including the university's share of any state-mandated increases in salaries, fringe and health benefit changes, need-based financial aid, and institutional initiatives. The exact uses will be determined in part by budget actions taken by the Governor and General Assembly during the 2020 session.
Tuition for out-of-state undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as mandatory fees for all students, will be set by the Board of Visitors at its April 24, 2020 regular meeting. A public comment session will occur in the spring prior to this meeting.
The November Board of Visitors meeting will be held in the Board Room on the third floor of Blow Memorial Hall, located at 262 Richmond Road. More information on the Board meeting will be released next month in accordance with the university’s normal schedule of announcing public meetings.