FIU Planning 15% Tuition Increase

[HURAKAN]

FIU Planning 15% Tuition Increase
Tuition hike would be largest in school history
MIAMI (CBS4) ― Florida International University students may face a 15 percent tuition increase in the fall, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald. The increase would amount to the largest one-time increase in the history of the University.

The price of 12 credits could go up from $929 last fall, to about $1,068 dollars this year. This would translate to an additional $11.60 per credit.

School officials say the tuition increase can help offset the large budget cuts the state legislature passed because of the overall economic downturn. FIU's ability to hike the overall tuition was made possible by Governor Charlie Crist.

The governor signed a law that enables FIU, along with the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of South Florida to raise tuition up to 15 percent a year.

Students who were enrolled before July 2007 pay an additional 6 percent tuition increase next year, but would not have to pay the remaining 9 percent.

FIU president Modesto ''Mitch'' Maidique told CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald, he plans to implement the maximum hike of 15 percent this year, and expects tuition increases of at least 10 percent a year for the next several years.

FIU has eliminated jobs and 23 degree programs due to the massive loss of funding from the state legislature.
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Every year it becomes harder to study a career. People in the US wonder why is that more and more foreigners take high-paying positions and we're the only ones to blame. There shouldn't be nothing more important in a society than education. An educated society is a healthier society, a wealthier society, a prepared society. In a few years only the elite will be able to study. It's a real shame.

[Skyhawk]

Being realistic, $1,068 is very low for 12 hours. That works out to $267 for the average 3 hour course. It comes no where close to covering the real cost. For small classes of say 10 students (typical of upper level science and engineering courses) it comes no where close to even covering the the teacher's salary. Twenty years ago I was paid $4,200 to teach a 3 hour course as adjunct faculty. Full time faculty earn considerably more. In science and engineering the typical teaching load is 2 courses per semester. For a professor making $80,000 to $100,000 per year that works out to $20,000 to $25,000 per class for salary alone.

[dizzyfish]

I agree it is a shame. I can't believe how much tuition has increased since I was at USF.

Something you don't hear about everyday - they are taking fewer students too. You used to be able to get into a university with a 3.5 GPA - now you had better have AP and Honor points or they won't even look at you. I know a student that just graduated from the high school I work at and she has a 3.8 which wasn't good enough to get her into USF. She had to resort to attending a community college for a year.

We constantly preach "get a good education" to the students. What do you tell them now?

[HURAKAN]

This is my total for this Summer: 11 credits

Summer Term 2008 $1,447.85

Classes:
CHM 1045 Gen Chemistry I
CHM 1045L Gen Chem Lab I
CHM 1046L Gen Chem Lab II
CHM 1046 Gen Chemistry II
OCE 3014 Oceanography

The news article is not telling the entire story. You have fees for the labs and the university charges you fees for almost everything, health, athletics, parking garage, etc. The classes are not for 10 or 20 students per professor, but at least Chemistry, Biology, Geography, and more are 100 students or more per professor. Math classes are packed with 40 students or more. To the tuition, add the money spent for books. It's incredible how much they charge for books. I mostly use half.com.

By the way, if you're from another country or from another state, expect to pay up to 8 times what a student from Florida pays.

[Skyhawk]

The news article is not telling the entire story. You have fees for the labs and the university charges you fees for almost everything, health, athletics, parking garage, etc.

Labs are expensive to equip and supply.

If the university builds a clinic and staffs it, it costs money.

Athletic programs cost money. At least when I was in school you could opt out but, the student activities book cost much less than the face value of the tickets.

Parking lots and garages cost money to build.

The classes are not for 10 or 20 students per professor, but at least Chemistry, Biology, Geography, and more are 100 students or more per professor. Math classes are packed with 40 students or more.To the tuition, add the money spent for books. It's incredible how much they charge for books. I mostly use half.com.

I think you are a Met major. How many students in you Met classes?

Have you ever considered the cost of a popular book that's printed in the millions. Now consider a book that's loaded with equations and has a printing of perhaps 10,000 copies. For my own edification I bought a copy of Holton's Dynamic Meteorology last year from Amazon, and I was very pleased with the price.

By the way, if you're from another country or from another state, expect to pay up to 8 times what a student from Florida pays.

And they haven't paid state and US taxes that help support the school. As I have said before, tuition doesn't come close to covering the costs. Why should Florida and citizens of other states throught their federal income tax subsidize these foreign students?

[HURAKAN]

Skyhawk, let me ask you something, how is that Germany and other European countries are able to prosper and at the same time provide free education to its citizens? Why can't the US do the same thing?

By the way, FIU only has about five students that have declared Meteorology as their major. Therefore, FIU can't have large Met classes. If not, they would do so.

[Skyhawk]

Skyhawk, let me ask you something, how is that Germany and other European countries are able to prosper and at the same time provide free education to its citizens? Why can't the US do the same thing?

Now I understand. You want to go to school for free. Thank you for telling me. I believe those counties ration by having high entrance standards. In the US anybody can get higher education. They just have to shop around.

By the way, FIU only has about five students that have declared Meteorology as their major. Therefore, FIU can't have large Met classes. If not, they would do so.

Regardless the reason, somebody is paying the cost. Others are heavily subsidizing your met education. Universities often have large sections of as many as a 1000 student that earn lots of money that then goes to cover the costs of classes that have only 5 or 10 students. It probably doesn't matter, since you seem to believe that you should go to school for free, but why not take a look at the school's budget? Where does the money come from, and where does it go?

I am personally pleased with the educational deal I got, and I contribute to my school's alumni fund. I also contribute to my honor society's annual fund that provides scholarships to deserving engineering students.

[wyq614]

One of my best friend is studying in the tourist management faculty of Tianjin University of Commerce, which is established with the cooperation of FIU. All of the lessons are taught in English, and, when graduated, he would have two diplomas from both university. Is his tuition expected to rise, too?

[JonathanBelles]

Tuition is going up to $77.54/credit hour in the fall, bringing my tuition to $1043.02. It had been $73.16/credit hour

[Skyhawk]

I make a comforable living, but I am amazed at the amount of money that people spend for concerts, sporting events, and amusement parks. The cost of going to a movie shocks me. Given these costs it concerns me when people complain about the cost of a highly subsidized education at a public university.

[Cryomaniac]

My tuition fees are £3000 / year.

[CajunMama]

You're getting a good deal at FIU. Don't complain. Also, you should be thankful you're smart enough and are able to attend college. Many people don't have the option of attending. You're also going to have additional fees at whatever college you attend. The only other option if you don't like paying the tuition then is to drop out and go to work.

Tuition has to increase. The universities have salaries to pay, maintenance, utilities and more. Those prices go up, your tuition goes up. Compare your base tuition to Florida and Florida state

Florida State... $3,307 in-state
Florida State Tuition

University of Florida... $3370 in state
UF Tuition

I spent more on my kids private school education per year than what the University of Louisiana tuition is per year. I think my kids are and have gotten a great education.

[JonathanBelles]

Yeah, I get to look forward to that FSU tuition...

[CajunMama]

But consider what a drop in the bucket that tuition will be once you get your career established. You'll be making a decent salary and you'll look back and say it was worth every penny.

[HURAKAN]

I do complain about the education because every year there's less and less money for schools and we have to pay more and more.

I just wish I could do what they do, increase the amount of money I want to get by increasing my salary. Going to boss and say, "you know what, this month I would like to increase my salary by 15%." My boss would certainly not be pleased.

[Derek Ortt]

I'm sure the undergrads at the University of Miami are not exactly crying over this modest raise

[CajunMama]

I do complain about the education because every year there's less and less money for schools and we have to pay more and more.

I just wish I could do what they do, increase the amount of money I want to get by increasing my salary. Going to boss and say, "you know what, this month I would like to increase my salary by 15%." My boss would certainly not be pleased.

College is a choice. It's your responsiblity not the governments. Now in Louisiana we're very fortunate to have the TOPS program that was impleted several years ago. I pay $500/semester or so of my daughters tuition plus her books. This summer I paid out of my pocket almost $1000 for 2 classes. I'd pay the full amount in a heartbeat if i had too because if not she would have a limited future. She has certain stipulations she must meet. She can't drop below 12 hours and must maintain a certain gpa. Also, this next year she applied for and got a scholarship.

Oh and may i add that the last 3 years while making the deans list she worked, was active in her sorority, was active in the education honor society, danced studio dance, danced on the university dance team (where she had to perform at every home football & basketball games and every other home volleyball and womens basketball game and gave up her summers & holidays for camp/nationals practice) and had a very active social life.

My neighbor is a retired art professor. Believe me, the salaries of professors at the UL/FIU level are not paid what they should be. They deserve alot more than what they're receiving.

Ok, I'll get off my now!

[dizzyfish]

[quote="CajunMama
My neighbor is a retired art professor. Believe me, the salaries of professors at the UL/FIU level are not paid what they should be. They deserve alot more than what they're receiving.

Ok, I'll get off my now![/quote]


No teacher at any level is paid what they should be! And yes, they deserve a whole lot more than they get. No, I'm not a teacher. I'm the bookkeeper.

[HURAKAN]

As it becomes harder to sustain yourself and study, less and less people will be able to afford an education past high school.

[dizzyfish]

As it becomes harder to sustain yourself and study, less and less people will be able to afford an education past high school.

EXACTLY!