Miami University's budget deficit could get worse if Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland decides to maintain a tuition freeze that has been in place for two years.
Amanda Hurst, deputy press secretary for Strickland, said the tuition freeze is meant to encourage the pursuit of higher education while making colleges and universities affordable for Ohioans.
"The governor's goals are to make Ohio's public colleges and universities among the most affordable in the country and the highest quality," Hurst said.
The tuition freeze, which took affect in the fall of 2007, restricts Ohio colleges and universities from raising tuition for in-state students.
The governor is currently putting together his fiscal budget with Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, for next year while keeping the freeze on tuition a top priority for 2009.
"The chancellor and (the governor) are putting together a two-year plan that includes keeping tuition low and also providing more access for more Ohioans to attend our colleges and universities," Hurst said.
Miami senior Joe Otte, from Coldwater, Ohio, said the tuition freeze is beneficial for in-state students who want an affordable, quality education.
"I think the tuition freeze is a good idea because I don't like paying more than I have to," Otte said. "I don't think anybody else should have to pay more money. If they really need to get a good education at a reasonable price, they can stay in their home state."
Another two-year freeze in tuition may resonate well with the majority of Miami students but university officials know the other side of the story.
David Creamer, vice president of finance and business at Miami, said there would probably be general increases in tuition for the 2009-10 academic year.
However, Creamer said that a tuition raise is contingent on future state legislation.
"Legislature will influence what happens for 2009 and 2010," Creamer said.
According to Creamer, if another tuition freeze was passed into state law, Miami's budget deficit would increase.
"Tuition would increase because state support isn't at the level as other states," Creamer said.
However, while tuition is frozen from 2007 to 2009 for in-state students, other student costs have increased in the past year.
According to Jen Poletti, senior associate director of admissions at Miami, room and board costs have risen while tuition has stayed the same.
In the 2007-08 school year, students paid $8,600 for room and board while in 2008-09, students are paying $8,998 to live on-campus.
An extension of the tuition freeze may create more problems for Miami as it faces its largest budget deficit on record, according to Creamer.
He said tuition is one of the largest sources of money for the university.
"(Tuition) makes up about 72 percent of our general operating budget," Creamer said.
The freeze is only applicable to undergraduate students from Ohio-not graduate students or those from out-of-state.
Among some out-of-state Miamians, the tuition freeze is not popular.
Senior Kathleen Sheehy from Virginia understands the intention behind freezing tuition but is not content that she pays more tuition just because she is not from Ohio.
"I understand that out of state students should pay more than in-state students, but I think we should have the same tuition increases," Sheehy said. "I think it will turn out-of-state students away from Miami."
