Task Groups

 






Differential Graduate Tuition Update 4-2010

Creating a Shared Vision

The Differential Graduate Tuition Task Group has examined the opportunities and challenges associated with differential graduate tuition and has made recommendations. The study was prompted because Board of Governors policy includes a provision allowing institutions to charge differential graduate tuition if approved by the chancellor. The policy requires that institutions support tuition-increase requests using these criteria:

  1. The cost of instruction or delivery is higher than for other graduate programs.
  2. The level of service provided to the student is greater than for other programs.
  3. Raising the level of tuition would allow the university to offer programs that would not be available at the lower rate.

CONCLUSION

The task group identified three high-cost, nationally accredited graduate programs that require high levels of student service: Counseling (College of Education), Communicative Disorders (College of Health Sciences), and Social Work (College of Business and Public Affairs). Relevant features of these programs include the following:

  1. The programs require more than the 30-credit minimum for degree completion.
  2. All three programs have multiple-semester clinical or field placements that are arranged for each student individually and require both faculty supervision and on-site preceptors.
  3. The programs have low accreditation-mandated faculty-student ratios.
  4. The costs for each program exceed the tuition revenues.
  5. In general, market factors suggest that the programs would continue to be viable if the tuitions were to be raised appropriately.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

The task group recommends requesting permission of the chancellor to institute differential tuition for the Counseling (10% increase), Communicative Disorders (20% increase), and Social Work (10% increase) programs. However, the group notes that system-level discussions are in progress and may negate or reinforce the recommendations made by WCU’s Differential Graduate Tuition Task Group.

NEXT STEPS

The task group report is currently under consideration by the President's Cabinet.

PRESIDENT’S CABINET DECISION

To request the Office of the Chancellor to approve a 10% differential in tuition for the 3 programs identified.

OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR DECISION

Approved.