Tuition Hiked to Fund Growth

Starting next fall, the university will raise the tuition at all eight of the university’s divisions by about 5 percent to expand academic programs and fund facility improvements. Since 2006, tuition has risen by nearly 27 percent and this most recent increase is commensurate with those in the past few years.

The administration claims that the tuition increase will also help finance new programs across the university. According to Jonathan White, assistant dean of students at Eugene Lang College, music and theatre will be just two of the programs helped by the tuition increase. White also said that increased tuition revenue will allow administrators to expand exchange programs, hire more full-time faculty, secure larger graduation facilities, and improve facilities throughout the university.

Although the tuition is increasing, the university has promised to raise student aid proportionally. An email sent to Lang students from Stefania de Kenessey, interim dean, on April 8 said, “The New School has increased its overall financial aid budget by $5.7 million.” This increase in aid is directly related to the increase in tuition and is meant to proportionate with the tuition increases and will be shared across the university.

How the university will continue to give aid when focusing on renewing the university “is somewhat complicated,” said Peter Taback, senior director of communications at The New School. “Each year, we allocate additional revenue from all sources (tuition, private giving, etc.) to provide financial aid that is commensurate with tuition,” he said.

Enrollment increases draw in more money for the university because most of The New School’s funding comes from  tuition. However, those enrollment increases also raise operating expenses, which the tuition hike is meant to compensate for. “Most costs that make up a tuition increase are per student operating expenses, which correspond with the market,” Taback said.  When a new student comes, they do not increase the financial burden of others. The net revenue made by increased enrollment actually helps keep tuition increases lower.

The tuition increases are intended, in part, to fund the reconstruction of student space at Loeb Residence Hall as well as “student computer labs, rehearsal space, among many other facilities throughout the campus that have long been in need of renovation and improvement,” according to Taback. Tuition money will go towards short-term and longer-term improvements. Advancements include the new university center at 65 Fifth Ave. In addition, one or two new floors in the 79 Fifth Ave. building will be leased as of next year, White explained.

However, some students are concerned about the increased financial burden. “I’m going to start having to sell my plasma. It’s kind of ridiculous,” said Brittany Fowle, 18, an environmental studies major at Lang. Fowle may be kidding about her willingness to sell plasma, but she can only hope that the added programs and better facilities are worth her blood.