Regents Approve Reduction of UH Tuition Increase

A proposal to reduce tuition increases by the University of Hawai’i President David Lassner was approved Thursday by the University of Hawai’i Board of Regents.

The proposed reductions are for resident undergraduate students for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years.

In 2011, the board approved a seven-percent tuition increase in the fourth and fifth years of the current five-year tuition schedule for all campuses.

“The Board of Regents has wrestled with balancing affordability with a high quality education,” said Board Chair Randy Moore. “We support the UH administration in striving to achieve this difficult equilibrium.”

Tuition increases will be reduced from seven percent to four percent at UH-Hilo. At all UH Community Colleges, the tuition spike will decrease from seven percent to five percent for lower division course and from seven percent to four percent for upper division courses.

Efforts from the legislature to put the university system in a position where a lower tuition increase could be considered were credited by President Lassner.

“The UH administration is very focused on cost containment and improved efficiencies,” Lassner said. “I thank the legislature and our campuses for working extremely hard to ensure that high-quality public higher education in Hawai’i remains available and affordable for all.”

Kalbert Young, UH Vice President for Budget and Finance praised the Board of Regents for the efforts in insisting on remaining open. “The board is demanding greater transparency and accountability in UH’s finances,” said Young. “We are committed to these principles as we work to support our students and faculty with quality educational experiences in a fiscally responsible manner.”

When the Board of Regents approved a five-year tuition schedule for academic years 2012-13 through 2016-17 in 2011, the design aimed to ensure the availability of resources to meet expanding enrollment growth. During the first two years, the design used the increase to meet the growth under declining state investment. Since the plan was implemented, both enrollment and State appropriation have stabilized greatly.