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representative Reports • * ' . Non-Resident Tuition increase Would Provide $30 Million Moore»y Bob Salter tate Representative 16th DistrictAUSTIN—This past Wednes-lay the Legislature passed House Bill 43 by Representative Harold Davis of Austin vhich increased the non-rcs'i-iont tuition at state-supported senior colleges and universities. This bill has stirred up i bit of controversy so I .hought that you might be in-.erested in a brief discussion. f its features.The basic feature of the bill s that it increases the present uition for non-resident students xt public senior colleges and jniversities from $200 per se-nester to $700 per semester or 51,400 per nine months. At the same time, the tuition for resi-ient students is left at the present $50 per semester.The $500 per semester increase in non-resident tuition nay seem like a great deal of noney but; when viewed in light of the tuition fees charged at other major state universities it is nob out of line it all.Mr. Davis’ bill sets Texas’ non-resident tuition at $1,400 per nine months plus about 5125 per year in additional fees, [-louse Bill 43 leaves Texas’ non-resident tuition charge below some of the other major states, yet it will provide a projected $30 million a year in additional revenues.Another major factor involved in the passage of this bill is the fact that 30% of the graduate students in the University of Texas System arc non-residents. There arc also jver 19,000 out-of-state students in public senior colleges and universities in Texas.ACCORDING to the formula used by the Legislature to appropriate funds to colleges, the average cost per student in Texas for two semesters, or nine months, is $1,400. However, the cost of producing graduate students majoring in Liberal Arts is $4,000 jxir nine months and $6,500 for Ph. Distudents majoring in Science. Therefore, the great expense presently sustamed by the tax-, payers of Texas to pay for graduate education of non-residents would be partially off-, set by the tuition increase proposed in House Bill 43.A key feature of the bill provides that should any state charge Texas resident more; than $700 per semester tuition, then Texas will reciprocate and charge the non-resident; students from that other state the same amount of tuition his state charges the Texas resident.I think that the reciprocation provision is sound as it provides for equality for the, expenses of education between Texas taxpayers and those of other states.The measure provides also that the tuition for non-resident students in Medical or Dental Schools of the Texas System will be $700 per semester while resident tuition will, remain the same as before.THE BILL gives some relief to students presently enrolled in Texas colleges and universities by providing that any non-resident student who has over 60 semester horn's of credit and is enrolled in the schools covered by the bill at the time it takes effect shall continue to pay t;hc rate which he paid the semester prior to the effective date of the law. I think this is proper as jt; lessens the impact on these students who were caught unprepared by the legislation and who must bear an unexpected financial burden.The Davis Bill was pas-od by the House on final reading by a vote of 124 to 22 and was sent to the Senate for further consideration.1 voted for the bill and feel' that it is a good piece of legislation as it gives the Texas t .ax pay or an even break by requiring non-residents to pay their own wjiy. Even more important, it also provides added revenue of $30 million which we .dcspcrajcly need this coming biennium.
Newspaper Details
Gatesville Messenger and Star Forum
Gatesville, Texas, US
Thu, Feb 11, 1971
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USA 06 Jan 2025
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