2018-19 Tuition and Fee Proposals

Memorandum

To: Arizona Board of Regents  
From: UA President Robert C. Robbins 
Date: March 2, 2018
Subject: 2018-19 Tuition and Mandatory Fee Proposals

I am pleased to submit the University of Arizona's tuition and mandatory fees proposal for the 2018-2019 academic year.  As a reminder, more than 95% of continuing undergraduate students will see a 0% increase in tuition and mandatory fees for 2018-2019, due to their enrollment in the tuition guarantee program.  

The enclosed materials are a result of collaborative dialogue with student leaders from the Associated Students of the University of Arizona (ASUA), the Associated Students of the University of Arizona South (ASUAS) and the Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC).  Over the course of many meetings with student leaders and university administration, students were provided detailed information about the UA's historical and current financial picture, projected trends in revenues and expenses, peer institutional data, and the need for additional institutional investments.  

Student leaders were encouraged to share their priorities for investments, based on feedback from students about areas of concern.  After spirited debate and thoughtful discussion, the group recommended a 2% increase in tuition, across the board, for both resident and non-resident students.  No mandatory fees will be increased for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Tuition and fee increases are one of many strategies the UA employs to fund critical needs.  This 2% increase, along with increased operational efficiencies, general appropriations, investment income, auxiliaries income, and available reserves, will enable the UA to do the following:

• Accelerate investments into staffing for Counseling and Psychological Services to bring the UA closer to the industry benchmark of 1:1100, counselors to students, in response to increasing demand by students with mental health and wellness issues
• Add additional staff in Financial Aid to bring the UA to the industry benchmark of 1:1800, staff to students, in response to the new Federal verification requirements, increased demand for Financial Aid services, and enrollment growth over the past decade
• Provide additional subsidy for childcare vouchers for graduate and undergraduate students
• Maintain the UA plan to invest in annual merit-based increases for faculty and staff, in order to not fall farther behind market and peer comparisons
• Address ongoing operational needs, with a priority being continued investments in information technology security

Incoming undergraduate students for the 2018-2019 academic year will be guaranteed the new tuition rate for four consecutive years.  The tuition guarantee remains a valued program by students and parents, allowing them to plan for the cost of attendance across the life of a student's experience at the UA.

Detailed information is included in the enclosed materials, but in summary:

• For entering freshmen, the cost of the four-year guarantee including mandatory fees and tuition together will be higher than last year by 1.80% ($220) for residents and 1.93% ($688) for non-residents
• For undergraduate students at UA South, the branch campus located in Sierra Vista, the change in mandatory fees and tuition together will be 1.89% ($169) for residents and 1.97% ($623) for non-residents
• For graduate students, the change in mandatory fees and tuition together will be 1.81% ($232) for residents and 1.93% ($631) for non-residents
• For undergraduate students in UA Online, students will see a $10 increase in the per unit rate, establishing new rate tiers of $500, $525, and $560.  UA Online rates have not increased since the launch of UA Online in Fall, 2015.

I look forward to the upcoming opportunities to discuss this proposal with the Regents, and to their continued support as we advance the mission of the University of Arizona.