Message from the President
Dear colleagues,
After a decade of budget cuts, next year the state of Michigan will provide Wayne State with a funding increase of 65/100 of 1 percent. After the long period of disinvestment, this is a step in the right direction following last year’s 15 percent cut. However, this increase is insufficient to offset the increasing costs of operating the University. And since it is designated for the next fiscal year only, we cannot build it into our permanent budget.
As a result, the University’s Board of Governors voted on June 27 to increase tuition by 3.88 percent for resident undergraduate students and graduate students. This was a difficult decision for the Board, but it was made in the interest of allowing the University to balance its budget while preserving Wayne State’s strengths in teaching and research.
Wayne State's freshman tuition will increase by approximately $11.20 per credit hour, or $134.40 per semester for students taking a full load of 12 credit hours in fall 2012. Any increase is difficult, but it is important to note that Wayne State's freshman tuition remains 13th among Michigan's 15 public universities, and is substantially lower than that of Michigan's other two major research universities.
The Board’s decision was made with the understanding that we must do all we can to preserve our tradition of affordability.To mitigate tuition increases for those needing financial assistance, Wayne State has doubled its financial aid over the past five years. This includes investing an additional $3 million for the coming year, for a total of $56 million in institutional financial aid. More than 82 percent of all WSU undergraduate students receive some type of need-based or merit-based financial aid.
We remain committed to providing an outstanding education at an affordable cost. We will continue to find ways to fulfill and strengthen our missions of teaching and research. And we will neither lower our expectations nor compromise our quality. In the present economic environment, this can be accomplished only through an increase in tuition. Preserving the excellence of a Wayne State education will best serve our faculty, our students, and our community, both now and in the future.
The Board of Governors and I appreciate your understanding and continued support.
Allan Gilmour
President