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Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015
NEWS | KANSAN.COM
Opting out of tuition compact a financial gamble for students
CASSIDY RITTER
@CassidyRitter
Some first-time freshmen have until Monday to choose to opt into the four-year tuition compact, a payment option that keeps tuition prices steady for four years.
Students who decide to opt in to the compact will start out paying a higher price than those who don't, but the compact serves as a safeguard against rising tuition. So students who choose the compact are guaranteed steady tuition, but those who opt out could save money if tuition rises slowly and does not reach the higher price guaranteed in the compact. If tuition increases sharply, they could end up paying more money.
This year tuition is $9,891 for in-state students with the compact or $9,123 without it. For out-of-state students, tuition with the compact costs $25,727 and $23,774 without it.
Only first-time college students can choose to use the compact. The deadline to opt in depends on when a first-year student attended his or her orientation session. Students who attended orientation in June and July had until Aug. 1 to opt in, and those who attended orientation in August must opt in by Aug. 24, according to the University Registrar
website.
Since 2013, the compact has been saving students less and less money, according to University tuition and fees tables. For an in-state student graduating in May who entered into the compact in 2012, tuition will have been $836 more over the course of their education. The compact was more expensive for the classes of 2015 and 2014, too. The class of 2013, which entered into the compact in 2009, saved $391.50.
Students will now be able to choose between security and potentially saving money in the event of small tuition increases.
The the four-year tuition compact gives student sand parents more options when budgeting for college expenses, according to Lisa Pinamonti Kress, director of Office of Admissions.
"By offering the t ion compact as a choice the University is giving students and parents more options to finance a KU education," Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director for news and media relations at the University, said in an email.
"It is a positive change for recruitment efforts," Pinamonti Kress said in an email. "It provides students and families an option on their tuition choices."
- Edited by Miranda Davis
Break-even point varies for tuition compact options
Break-even point varies for tuition compact options
Price with tuition compact
Standard tuition
GRADUATED IN 2014
GRADUATED IN 2015
GRADUATING IN 2016
KANSAN GRAPHIC
Source: KU Registrar
CHRIS NEAL/ASSOCIATED PRESS Cythnia Lane, superintendent for USD 500 in Kansas City, Kan., at a hearing on a school funding lawsuit. The district is asking the state for $2.7 million more in aid.
School districts' requests for aid outstrip funds
ASSOCIATED PRESS
1OPEKA, Kan. — Thirty-eight Kansas school districts are seeking a total of $14.8 million in additional aid from the state to address local budget issues.
The requests submitted to the state Department of Education by Monday's deadline outstrip the available funds by nearly 21 percent. Those applying for extra dollars represent more than 13 percent of the state's 286 districts.
Gov. Sam Brownback and legislative leaders plan to meet next Monday to consider the requests.
The state has $12.3 million in extra funds available.
A majority of districts are asking the state to make up for unexpected drops in property tax revenues. Others have enrollment increases.
The Wichita district is seeking $980,000 to hire teachers, counselors and classroom assistants to deal with an unexpected influx of refugee children from Burma, Congo and Somalia.
What you need to know about Student Senate
ALANA FLINN
@alana_flinn
What to look for this semester by executive board member position:
As students make their return to campus for the fall 2015 semester, the Student Senate executive board has been writing legislation, coordinating new committees and preparing over the summer.
Who: Jessie Pringle, a senior from Chanute
STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
What she's working on this year. As chair of the Kansas Board of Regents Students' Advisory Committee, Pringle will be working with student body presidents at other KBOR schools. Their goal is to look at policy that affects the higher education institutions and advocate for legislation
that will allow universities to work together with the state legislator.
"I think we have a real opportunity to stop complaining about legislators and how they affect higher education by really getting involved with how and why they make their decisions," Pringle said.
Pringle is also working on collecting student opinions on the Kansas law that will allow anyone to bring a concealed weapon into campus buildings. The University is working to create a plan to maintain safety on campus and Pringle hopes to incorporate the data.
STUDENT BODY
Who: Zach George, a senior from Ottawa
What he's working on this year: George is working on publishing course evaluations. If it is successful, students
would be able to access part of the information that comes from the end of semester evaluations. George has already begun working with Development Director Tomas Green to develop a bill that they will propose to the Senate. George said publishing course evaluations is a growing national trend, as many of them can warn students of expensive textbooks for specific classes.
"With the expense of higher education, we think publishing course evaluations will allow students to have more control over their education and get more bang for their buck," George said. "This will be quite a mountain to climb, because it is a very contentious issue with faculty members."
CHIEF OF STAFF Who: Adam Moon, a senior from Mission
What he's working on this
year: In addition to his administrative duties, Moon will lay the groundwork for an inexpensive airport shuttle system between campus and Kansas City International Airport. So far, the project is in its planning stages. Student Senate has collected data and information regarding the project through surveys and focus groups.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Who: Isaac Bahney, a junior from Terre Haute, Ind.
Who: Tomas Green, a junior from Seattle, Wash.
What he's working on this year: Bahney will be in charge of creating open forums on campus, one of the platforms of Advance KU, the winning coalition from the spring election. The forum, which would take place a couple of times each semester, would allow students to voice opinions, concerns and ideas to administrators and student leaders.
"The whole purpose is to have a conversation" of some of the issues from last year, around the nation and even sexual assault on campus," Bahney said. "Last year, a lot of students didn't feel like they could talk directly to administrators.
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
funding the projects.
what he's working on: To push Student Senate's sustainability platform Green said he is coordinating with a number of institutions on campus like KU Facilities Management to get the best value and use with a small carbon footprint. Senate will use unallocated money to fund several projects, including air dryers and LED lighting equipped with motion sensors. Green is also reaching out to alumni and KU Endowment for help
"My hope is to work within our internal structure to draft a timeline of investments we want to make in the next five to 10 years; to plan for and invest in things over a long period of time." Green said.
DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Who: Omar Rana, a senior from Tulsa, Okla.
What he's working on: During the summer, Rana partnered with Mary Morningstar, an associate professor in the department of special education, to write a special education grant to develop a program for students with intellectual disabilities. Rana is currently waiting for the results of the grant request.
Rana is the second senator to hold the position after it was created in January.
Minors:
Student Organizations:
- Astronomy Physics and Engineering Student Organization (PESO)
- Astrobiology Students for the Development and Exploration of Space (SEDS)
- Physics Society of Physics Students (SPS)
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