KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Western Michigan University trustees voted to freeze tuition and housing costs to support students through the pandemic.
Due to the unpredictable environment and financial strain caused by COVID-19, university officials said they want to create certainty for students around the cost of their education and to show that WMU remains committed to affordability. Students will see no increase to housing or tuition costs in the fall.
Typically, WMU's board would set tuition in June, when there's more clarity about state funding. However, university leaders felt it was important for students to know what to expect for the 2020-21 academic year before the current one ends this week.
"It is our responsibility to be careful and responsible stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us by our students and their families as well as the state's taxpayers. We simply cannot continue to operate at anywhere near business-as-usual," said President Edward Montgomery.
WMU's first source of revenue, roughly 72%, comes from the tuition and fees that students and their families pay.
The university is also feeling a financial strain from the pandemic, which has created severe budgetary challenges for higher education institutions across the state and nation.
At a Thursday meeting, the president outlined those challenges for WMU, including more than $45 million in losses due to the crisis this year thus far and a projected $45 to $85 million in additional losses next fiscal year.
WMU said it is dealing with the economic blows in a range of ways including the forfeiture of two weeks leave or more for the president's cabinet. It was announced Thursday that all senior executives would also receive a 10% pay cut. Senior executives include the president, each vice president, General Counsel, Chief of Staff and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
All associate and assistant vice presidents, associate provosts and vice provosts, and deans will take a 5% pay reduction.
"We will be strategic and continue to focus on short- and long-term needs as we move forward," Montgomery said.
For those interested in a breakdown of 2020-121 tuition and required fees, as well as, room and board rates can visit WMU's trustee's page.
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