Spring Break
Promise's future unknown until December meeting
Incoming students could see increase in tuition in spring
By: Phil Hornshaw
Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: News
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December will mark a turning point in the two-year tuition experiment called the CMU Promise.
That month is when the Board of Trustees will determine whether to increase tuition for the spring semester for freshmen and transfer students.
It's also the time when trustees will know whether state appropriations will be enough to make the Promise fiscally possible.
"The trustees extended the Promise in July for the fall semester, but not the spring," said Steve Smith, director of media relations. "We're going to watch what happens, but we won't know until September or October what the situation will be like with the state."
The first thing the CMU budget hinges on is a nearly $7.5 million delayed payment from the state.
Smith said whether that money makes it to CMU will play a part in what happens to the Promise.
"This is the month that money is being withheld, and that still leaves a big question mark about how much the state legislature is willing to allocate to higher education," Smith said. "Once we see what happens with the $7.5 million, we'll have a much better handle on things."
Board of Trustees Chairman Jeff Caponigro said the trustees hope to continue the CMU Promise.
The program is costly, however, because CMU can only raise tuition for incoming students, regardless of what happens to other sources of income, like state appropriations.
It's too early to tell just what would have to occur for CMU to have to abandon the Promise, Caponigro said.
"We're trying to be prudent by looking at it every semester," Caponigro said. "We'll see what it's looking like, what's in the best interest of CMU today and into the future, or if it'll be too financially risky."
During the next few months, exploring the Promise and its potential issues will be a top priority for officials.
This is the first time the program, which has been highly touted by CMU officials for the past two years as a method of drawing students, has been on shaky ground.
That month is when the Board of Trustees will determine whether to increase tuition for the spring semester for freshmen and transfer students.
It's also the time when trustees will know whether state appropriations will be enough to make the Promise fiscally possible.
"The trustees extended the Promise in July for the fall semester, but not the spring," said Steve Smith, director of media relations. "We're going to watch what happens, but we won't know until September or October what the situation will be like with the state."
The first thing the CMU budget hinges on is a nearly $7.5 million delayed payment from the state.
Smith said whether that money makes it to CMU will play a part in what happens to the Promise.
"This is the month that money is being withheld, and that still leaves a big question mark about how much the state legislature is willing to allocate to higher education," Smith said. "Once we see what happens with the $7.5 million, we'll have a much better handle on things."
Board of Trustees Chairman Jeff Caponigro said the trustees hope to continue the CMU Promise.
The program is costly, however, because CMU can only raise tuition for incoming students, regardless of what happens to other sources of income, like state appropriations.
It's too early to tell just what would have to occur for CMU to have to abandon the Promise, Caponigro said.
"We're trying to be prudent by looking at it every semester," Caponigro said. "We'll see what it's looking like, what's in the best interest of CMU today and into the future, or if it'll be too financially risky."
During the next few months, exploring the Promise and its potential issues will be a top priority for officials.
This is the first time the program, which has been highly touted by CMU officials for the past two years as a method of drawing students, has been on shaky ground.
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