Lawmakers Address Costs of College

University leaders were told to make tuition more affordable during a visit to the state capitol on Thursday.

According to the latest report, in a four year period, tuition at public universities in Texas increased, on average, by more than 50%. At a time when college investment funds are shrinking and scholarships are hard to find, state lawmakers say it is time to find a solution.

Crystal Allen and Ashley Ebeling graduate from Texas Tech in August. Both earning a Masters degree, and a big debt.

"It is difficult; I work full time to try to make ends meet," Allen said.  She has a $60,000 student tuition loan. Ebeling, who owes about 15-thousand, says, "The only choice is to go in debt."

Dealing with this problem was the assignment of the day for members of the Senate Finance Committee.
 

Senator Jane Nelson, of Flower Mound, questioned why University Administrators at UT in Austin got big pay hikes while tuition rates went.

"To see these kinds of figures, we've got an administration payroll with a 43% percent increase over four year period of time, concerns me greatly," said Nelson.

During the hearing, senators were also critical of news that top executives with the U. T. Investment Management Company was paid $3-million in bonuses. The decision to do that was made back in November, at a time when earnings for the fund dropped by 23%. Governor Rick Perry and Lt. Governor say they are also upset with the bonuses.

It made for a tough start for new UT Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa. It's his fourth day on the job and the Chancellor agrees, tuition must be affordable, but achieving that goal requires a balancing act.

"Making accessibility and quality equally important, it is a triangle; any impact on this will impact over here," said Cigarroa.

The chancellor believes a four year tuition freeze for incoming freshmen, can work. The University of Texas is doing it right now in Dallas and El Paso. But for lawmakers, drafting a statewide plan could prove difficult, especially as other proposals are considered like, a two year freeze and linking tuition to inflation.

Meanwhile, more students are heading to community college. Spring enrollment at Austin Community College is up an estimated 13% increase from a year ago. Taking the Community College route can save money on the front end. Especially for students who split time between the classroom and time on the job. However, those working for a four year degree can still get stuck.

The problem, according to state senator Kirk Watson, is a result of deregulation in 2003. According to Watson, flat rate plans have loop holes to close.

"What that means is means is, in terms of tuition, is making sure there is sufficient funding and investment in Higher Ed, so when you freeze that tuition what you dont do is degrade our institutions of higher learning," said Watson.

For now, as lawmakers crunch the numbers, students will continue to hit the books, and get hit with a big tuition bill. Back in the fall, Texas A&M started a free tuition program for students with families who have incomes of $60-thousand or less. Texas State has a similar program, but the income level is capped at $25-thousand.