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Wm (Bamecock Tuition increases: A six-month saga ■ Board of trustees cuts tuition increase in half after Gov. Hodges vetoes budget cuts to education In addition, departmental bud get cuts, originally slated for 10 percent across the university, were reduced to 5 percent. Hodges’ funding restoration to state colleges and universities was partially in response to a planned 42 percent in-state tuition increase at Clemson University. USC President John Palms im mediately responded to the school’s increased budget by recommend ing that the board of trustees cut back the 10.4 percent tuition in crease. “I believe the governor and the General Assembly took this bold action trusting that the colleges and universities would respond in a manner which would impact South Carolina families — through a re duction in the previously approved tuition increases,” Palms said. The lowered tuition hikes met with positive reaction from the uni versity community. “We had just finished orienta tion (when we found out about the new increases), and several parents were very pleased to see that the amount of the increase was rolled back,” Associate Director of Fi nancial Aid Bob Godfrey said. “Most people (at orientation) were really just looking for the bottom line.” Senior Curtis Hutto didn’t think the increase would affect his fi nancial well-being. “Fm on an academic scholar ship, so I don’t really care how much tuition goes up, Hutto said. “Maybe this will give some people more incentive to do better in school.” For other students who do have to worry about tuition, the increase still came as a blow to their wallets and pocketbooks. “I think it sucks that they are still raising tuition,” said senior Kevin Summer. “It is better than the 10.4 percent increase, though.” In mid-June, when the univer sity faced severe budget cuts, trustees finalized short-lived plans for a 10.4 percent increase in tu ition for all students. With this first announcement of an increase in tuition, some stu dents thought that prospective stu dents might look for another school to attend. “I could see how this proposed tuition increase might cause some one to look at other schools,” ju nior Ellen Jones said. With more than 36,500 students at USC’s eight campuses around the state, many students and fam ilies said they would have been af fected by the large increase. “Coming from a family of four children, who will all be in college out of state at the same time as of fall, any raise in tuition will be hard on us,” said junior Erin Morrison. After Clemson’s original tu ition increase was announced, USC students began thinking less nega tively about tuition increases here. “I definitely don’t think that the students are going to be happy with the tuition increase, but given the circumstances that we had in the budget, we were pretty lucky,” said Student Body President Corey Ford. “We are lucky that it is not high er, like Clemson’s.” Mack Whittle, chairman of USC’s Board of Trustees, said USC’s reaction to the original bud get cuts was both courageous and knowledgeable. “The budget that we adopted is extremely responsible, showing courage to cut where necessary and the wisdom to support key items that are critical to maintaining the type of quality education that is ex pected of our state’s flagship uni versity,” Whittle said. The news desk can be reached at gamecockudesk @ hotmail.com Student Classification Tuition % Increase Org. Increase 2000-2001 Tuition Resident undergraduates $3,964 5.2 percent 10.4 percent $1,884 Non-resident undergraduates $10,904 8.5 percent 10.4 percent $5,027 Resident graduate students $4,434 5.2 percent 10.4 percent $2,107 Non-resident graduate students $9,854 8.5 percent 10.4 percent $4,541 f Resident medical students $9-,900 10 percent 20 percent $4,500 Non-resident medical students $28,686 10 percent 20 percent $13,039 Aaron Hark/The Gamecock Students and other demonstrators gather in front of the State House in May to protest cuts in state funding to colleges and universities. Because of Gov. Hodges’ vetoes, tuition increases and departmental budget cuts at USC weren't as bad as these protestors expected — tuition was only raised 5.2 percent for in-state students. j Clemson lowers 42-percent tuition increase after governor's vetoes by Cristy Infinger The Gamecock When faced with a budget cut by the state to higher education, which left the university with a nearly $20 million defecit, Clemson raised tu ition on June 20 by an unprecedent ed 42 percent for in-state students and 15 percent for out-of-state students. The tuition increase was credit ed to unfunded state mandates and a lack of resources needed to fund the university’s goals of enhancing the quality of an education received at Clemson. Clemson’s board of trustees re sponded to Gov. Jim Hodge’s veto of state cuts to funds to higher educa tion by reducing the approved tuition of $2,545 per semester to $1,945 for the fall semester, creating about $20 million of needed funding. Gemson has agreed to give back students the net effect of the gover nor’s veto, according to Gemson Pres ident James Barker. On July 13, the board of trustees voted to give back to in-state students a $600 refund because of the veto, al lowing students and their families more time to plan for the increase in financing. The remainder of the tuition in crease will go toward achieving the university’s goal of becoming one of the nation’s top public universities and toward making up for other bud get deficiencies. The previously agreed increase of 42 percent will go into effect for in-state students for the spring 2002 semester. Original tuition increases for out of-state students weren’t affected by the governor’s vetoes. They will pay 15 percent more in tuition be ginning this fall. Trustees decided to keep the pre viously agreed upon increase due to research and predicted budget cuts next year. “Our goals are not negotiable. We are committed to being a Top 20 public university,” said Barker. “We are try ing to shape the university for its long term future.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. The news desk can be reached at gamecock udesk@hotmail.com cWeZcames Make sure your family and friends hear from you often during your school year... POSTAGE STAMPS... Are just one of the many services we provide! I Purchase your stamps — with no added fees from our ATM & office locations! Our ATM is located at the Humanities Building...more locations to be announced soon! (Phone cards are also available in case your news won't wait...at less than ten cents per minute!) Carolina Collegiate Federal Credit Union 710 Pulaski Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201 • (803) 251-8474 • 1-800-476-5861 • www.carolina.org Contact us for Membership Information fci by Cristy Infinger The Gamecock USC students are sighing with relief after the board of trustees vot ed June 29 to cut a planned tuition increase in half. Under the revised plan, tuition for in-state students this year will go up by 5.2 percent, instead of the 10.4 percent trustees approved be fore Gov. Jim Hodges’ veto pen re stored $24.5 million in funds to the university. Tuition for out-of state students will increase by 8.5 percent. That means in-state under graduates will pay a total of $3,964 in tuition for the school year. Out-of-state students will pay $10,904 for the year.