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U of U Tuition Increase
Following is a statement from the University of Utah regarding Tuition Hike at the Graduate Level for Clinical Programs.
Need
- Health Sciences' graduate programs with extensive clinical components are high-cost programs. They typically have low student/faculty ratios, and they are labor intensive, requiring that much time and effort be spent in coordinating and managing the clinical settings.
- Major changes in healthcare have necessitated a move of health professions education to the ambulatory and primary care settings. These changes require more intensive faculty time. Accreditation agencies in health professions rigorously examine the faculty/student ratio as a major indicator of quality.
- Charges for clinical programs in the Colleges of Health, Nursing, and Pharmacy and the School of Medicine at the University of Utah are well below the average for comparable programs at other public universities. For example, our resident tuition for medical students is $6,921 compared to an average of $9,263. The sum of resident tuition and special fees for our physical therapy program is less than half the average for other public universities.
Plan
- A new tuition surcharge will be levied on students in the following graduate programs: clinical dietetics, communication disorders, medicine, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and physical therapy. The current surcharge in nursing will be increased. A total of approximately 1,000 students will pay the surcharge for clinical programs.
- The surcharge will be $2,500 administered on a flat-rate basis to resident and non-resident students alike. Nursing will be the exception. Because nursing is not chohort-based, a flat-fee surcharge is innappropriate. The surcharge for nursing will be a 10% increase on the already existing differential tuition which is based on student credit hours.
- All of the programs that will assess the additional tuition are high demand programs and are unique in the state.
- Students have been consulted regarding the tuition increase and understand the issues. They have been assured that the tuition revenue will remain with programs in which the revenue is generated and will directly benefit them.
- The additional tuition charge will qualify for Federal student loan programs. In addition, program directors have expressed an intention to use a portion of the revenue for financial aid. The University had adequate room within Title 53 provisions to make tuition waivers available.
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