USC: No Mid-Year Tuition Increase to Deal With Cuts

The University of South Carolina says there will be no mid-year tuition increase to deal with current budget reductions at the school.

By: Fred Cunningham | News Channel 7
Published: December 08, 2008

The University of South Carolina says there will be no mid-year tuition increase to deal with current budget reductions at the school.

The school's state appropriations have been reduced $38.9 million since this past June as of December 5 according to the USC website. That's a reduction of 17.45% according to the University.

USC is looking for ways to save money, with less money from the state coming to the school system. Actions that have been recommended and approved thus far include:

Faculty and staff hiring will only be approved for priority areas and mission-critical positions.
Many instructors on yearly appointments are not being renewed, amplifying the workload for faculty and staff who remain.
Replacement of retiring faculty and staff is being delayed, leaving positions unfilled.
Reductions in force (RIF) of non-teaching staff in some units have begun.

Some small class sections are being cancelled for spring and summer 2009
Enrollment in certain smaller academic programs has been frozen; these will be reviewed for discontinuation.
Number of graduate assistantships might be reduced.
Some faculty members are absorbing increased teaching loads.

Travel expenses will be reduced significantly.
Some units are reducing and, in some cases, eliminating summer research support for faculty.
Purchases of supplies, books, journals, and equipment deemed as non-mission critical are being reduced.
Certain centers and institutions might be phased out.

You can read more about the budget at the University of South Carolina by clicking here