AU Senate voices opposition to tuition freeze

By: Brittany Whitley Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: April 30, 2009

The Auburn University Faculty Senate hosted a special meeting Tuesday, passed a resolution and approved letters that will ask legislators not to pass any laws that would limit AU’s ability to raise tuition.

The meeting was scheduled in response to recent legislation making its way through the Alabama Legislature that could freeze or restrict tuition as part of a proposal to save Alabama’s PACT (prepaid college tuition) program.

“None of us want to raise tuition. Realistically we know people are struggling,” AU Senate Chair Kathryn Flynn said.

Part of the resolution states, “Whereas we are concerned that the proposed legislation restricting the Auburn University Board of Trustees from establishing appropriate tuition levels will have a significant negative impact on our ability to fulfill that responsibility (to provide excellent educational opportunities to students), Therefore be it resolved that the Auburn University Senate respectfully requests that the Legislature not support any legislation that limits Auburn’s ability to manage its tuition revenue.”

Letters, the first of which will be sent to State Sen. Ted Little (D), will be sent to individual senators asking them not to vote for legislation that would restrict tuition.

Part of the draft letter reads, “The University has experienced a $79 million decrease in state appropriation since F(iscal) Y(ear) 08. Such cuts have required a great deal of effort to avoid a negative impact on the education of our students. Further reductions in state appropriations are likely, and tuition increases are the only way the University has to ensure that we can adequately fulfill our responsibilities to our students.”

Flynn added, “As state appropriations fall, tuition becomes more important.”