The Tennessee Board of Regents is considering removing the tuition cap for the universities it manages. No decision has been made, but a committee was established to begin discussing the change.
Currently ETSU’s fees for full-time students are capped at 12 credit hours. Students can register for up to 19 hours at no additional cost. TBR could change that. Allowing students to pay tuition fees per credit hour.
Dr. David Collins, vice president for business and finance, will be chairing the committee. Representatives from the bursar, admissions, student affairs, financial aid and several other business offices will fill the remaining positions. The members of the committee represent most TBR universities.
TBR will have to approve any decisions made by the committee.
If the decision is made to uncap tuition it will affect more than ETSU. Other universities in the system include Austin Peay State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, the University of Memphis and 13 community colleges.
Collins stated any outcome was “far from decided.” He also wanted to reassure students that this was not a way to get more money from students.
“If [the tuition change] were to occur, the charge of the committee is that it would be revenue neutral. In other words, this is nothing to try to generate additional revenue from students,” Collins said.
One reason for uncapping tuition would be the compatibility of an uncapped tuition with the Banner system – the replacement for ETSU’s old financial system.
“There are issues with Banner on the student system on the way it handles student fees,” Collins said. “To continue what we are doing now would require some significant dollars for some modification to the system.”
Collins believes that uncapped tuition would not hurt students. He also believes that ETSU will not lose any students due to the change in tuition, but rather might gain more part-time students.
Part-time students could potentially benefit from uncapped tuition because their fees could decrease. Uncapped tuition would apply to both graduate and undergraduate students.
Some ETSU students are still concerned about the impact the proposal could have on them.
“It’s ridiculous because regardless of any sort of financial aid that one could get through the government, there’s still a potential financial burden,” said pre-med/med student Vanessa Wright. “A student shouldn’t be punished just because they’re motivated.”
Difficulties with uncapped tuition could include problems with frequently dropping and adding courses, because potentially some courses could cost more money than others.
Uncapped tuition could also penalize students for taking more hours, and has the potential to make it more difficult for students to graduate.”It’s more fair than the previous system where everyone pays the same no matter what,” said student Mitch Cholerton.
Fairness and less trouble for part-time students are positive aspects of uncapped tuition.
“I think if you’re taking a lot of classes . versus someone who is taking the minimum like 12, then theoretically that person is using more resources and more teachers are having to be paid because of them, so they probably should have to pay a little bit more,” Cholerton said. “I think it’s probably a good idea that you should pay according to how many hours you take.”
The committee will meet and begin discussion on Oct. 11.
The issue is still being deliberated. For more information visit the TBR Web site at www.tbr.state.tn.us.

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