Dive Summary:
- Universities around Indiana are facing scrutiny from lawmakers as a result of Purdue University's two-year tuition freeze, announced March 1 by university president Mitch Daniels.
- State Sen. Luke Kenley, who criticized tuition increases at state universities in 2009, praised Daniels' decision and said that any school raising costs this year should be able to justify the move, but Ball State Vice President of Business Affairs and Treasurer Randy Howard says pressures from declining education funding and rising costs make it difficult to keep tuition affordable.
- Indiana University (IU) spokesman Mark Land says tuition freezes aren't the only way to increase affordability and that IU won't feel pressured toward a tuition freeze just because of Purdue's actions, and IU and Ball State are both offering tuition discounts to students on track to graduate within four years.
From the article:
... President Mitch Daniels announced the freeze for Purdue's West Lafayette campus March 1, saying "it's time for us to hit the pause button on tuition increases." It's the first time in 36 years that Purdue students haven't seen an increase.
The decision pleased lawmakers drafting the state's next budget, including Sen. Luke Kenley, who criticized universities for tuition increases in 2009 while Daniels was governor and withheld funding for capital projects until they softened their stance. ...