CONTACT:  Dr. Joseph L. Badgley, interim WVU Parkersburg president, 304-424-8200.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Faced with a 4.5 percent state budget reduction and insurance premium increases totaling some $15 million, West Virginia University’s Board of Governors Friday approved tuition and fee increases of approximately 11 percent for in-state students and 12 percent for out-of-state students, pending approval of the Higher Education Policy Commission.

The board also approved tuition and fee increases at its regional campuses, including West Virginia University at Parkersburg. The proposed tuition rate at the Parkersburg campus is an average increase of 3 per cent for the fall semester.

The proposed increase for WVU Parkersburg students enrolled in community college programs is 2.96 percent ($24) for in-state residents or $834 per semester and 3 percent ($84) or $2,886 for nonresidents. For students in baccalaureate programs at WVU Parkersburg, a 3.05 percent increase ($33) per semester was proposed for residents or $1,116 a semester and a 3.14 percent increase ($90) or $2,952 per semester for nonresidents.

"We recognize we have an obligation to the Mid-Ohio Valley to keep our tuition as affordable as possible," noted Joseph L. Badgley, WVU Parkersburg interim president.  "We take that obligation seriously, especially since we are so involved in workforce development and serving as a catalyst for economic growth."

Pending the signing of Senate Bill 448, the board requests will now go before the Higher Education Policy Commission or the Community and Technical College Council for approval.

For the main campus in Morgantown, the 11 percent increase translates into $195 more for resident undergraduates per semester - from $1,774 to $1,969 - and the 12 percent increase for nonresidents means $646 more per semester - from $5,384 to $6,030.  Some health sciences students will see slightly higher increases, officials said.

Only meal rates will rise at Potomac State College of WVU.