University provides update on biennial tuition and fees proposal process
This article originally appeared on UTSA Today on October 13, 2021.
The following message was sent via email today from Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs Veronica Salazar Mendez to all students:
Every two years, UT System convenes the biennial tuition and fees proposal process. During this time, each university submits a proposal to the Board of Regents for consideration. These proposals support operational increases and university priorities, including student success programs, financial aid, and more. As we prepare our proposal for fiscal years 2023 and 2024, we are mindful of the need to continue providing excellent academic opportunities and services, while keeping student costs low.
Reflecting our commitment to affordability, UTSA has the second lowest annual tuition growth rate among UT System research universities, and the lowest tuition and fees of the eight Texas universities designated by the state as Emerging Research Universities. Our proposal will set forth strategies reflecting that commitment while also supporting the university’s strategic efforts to provide quality education programs to all UTSA students.
The development of our tuition and fees proposal is guided by the following principles:
- Commitment to high quality academic programs and robust student support services
- Prudent fiscal stewardship
- Specific benefit, impact, and value for UTSA students
- Demonstrated significant institutional need for requested increases
- Affordable tuition, while ensuring cost of attendance remains comparable to UT System, Texas Emerging Research Universities, and aspirant peer institutions
In response to previous guidance from UT System, our proposal focuses on key strategies designed to increase cost predictability for better financial planning, as well as support for increased services for student success. To achieve these strategies, we are considering a move to a differential tuition model that will support college-specific services while eliminating numerous college-wide course fees.
Input from across the university is integral to the proposal process. This week, academic colleges are meeting with student advisory committees to solicit feedback on the proposal. Meetings with key groups, including the Student Government Association (SGA) and the University Leadership Council, are planned in the coming weeks to gather additional feedback and refine the proposal.
On November 1, we will submit our proposal to UT System, and the Board of Regents will consider finalized proposals for approval in February 2022. We will continue to keep you updated as the process moves forward. Additional information can be found on our Tuition and Fees website, which we will continue to update as more information is ready to share.
Our thanks go to the many students and university stakeholders whose feedback helps guide our proposal. We are grateful to the Roadrunner community for recognizing the importance of this process as we strive to balance student success while ensuring we have the funding needed to meet the needs of our growing university.
