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Proposed increase
in tuition concerns
UH, college students

Extra charges could shrink the
number of community college
students who go on to
the university level

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

Philip Akiu attended Honolulu Community College part time because of his work. Finally, by taking night courses, he is able to be a full-time student.

But just when he is feeling fortunate, Akiu now is faced with a proposed tuition hike that will be steep for students like him who enroll in more than 12 credit-hours of courses.

University of Hawaii officials have proposed what they consider generally modest tuition increases throughout the UH system, with hikes extending through the next five years and starting in the next academic year.

For community colleges, that includes $2 more per credit-hour for resident students each semester.

Students only pay for up to 12 hours of credit, and anything beyond that is free. But with the proposed changes, those who want to take a heavier load and finish sooner must pay $45 per hour.

For a three-credit course, that would mean paying an extra $135.

Charge beyond 12 credit-hours

Those carrying 12 credit-hours in a semester pay $516, but under the new schedule would pay $540. A student taking 15 hours now pays $516, but under the proposal would wind up paying $675 per semester.

Akiu said the $2-per-hour increase seemed reasonable, but charging extra beyond 12 hours is "ridiculous."

"I don't want to be a part-time student the rest of my life," Akiu told UH officials yesterday at a public hearing on the tuition proposals. "I've been there and it's not fun. My goal is now in the more distant future."

About 50 students attended the hearing at UH-Manoa's Campus Center. Most testimony came from community college students upset by the "12-hour cap" proposal.

None of the UH system's universities charge beyond 12 hours, but officials point out that undergraduate students in those institutions already pay about three times as much tuition as community college students.

Colleen Sathre, vice president for planning and policy at UH-Manoa, told students at the hearing that community college officials are concerned about wasted resources caused by students who sign up for more than 12 hours at no extra charge, then drop courses. Sathre did not provide statistics, however, on how many hours get dropped.

'The most equitable way'

After the hearing, John Morton, provost of Kapiolani Community College, said charging by credit-hour was "the most equitable way to keep tuition low for the vast number of students."

Morton said 75 percent of all community college students take 12 hours of credits or less. Asking the other 25 percent to pay for extra classes would be fairer than asking all students for steeper hikes, he said.

But the extra charge would shrink the number of community college students who go on to the university level because it would take more time and money to finish their two-year programs, "removing hope for many families," said Honolulu Community College student Michael Keith, who takes 18 credit-hours.

Students also ridiculed UH officials who say they want to increase enrollment yet raise tuition.

UH saw its peak enrollment in 1994 at 51,677. Current enrollment is 46,479, but that is slightly inflated because outreach students are included in the total for the first time. Sathre said numbers have evened out since 1997.

Regents to vote in March

Since 1994, UH has seen two major tuition increases: 50 percent in the 1996-97 school year, and 25 percent the following year.

Overall, however, enrollment has generally increased since 1980, along with the tuition, Sathre pointed out.

The tuition proposals include increases of $1 to $6 a year per credit-hour for the next five years for resident students at UH-Manoa, UH-Hilo, UH-West Oahu and the community colleges. The professional schools have already seen larger increases or are proposing them.

The UH Board of Regents will vote on the proposals at its March meeting.

Tuition hikes are needed because of budget cuts UH has faced in recent years, low tuition compared to other schools, shrinking enrollments, the state's poor economy, changes in programs and policies, and image problems, Sathre said.

Suggested increments Proposed UH tuition increases for Hawaii residents, per year over the next five years: UH-Manoa: $4 per credit-hour (3 percent increase) UH-Hilo: $4 per credit-hour for lower division and $1 for upper division for the first two years, then reaching $6 and $2 respectively by 2004. (7.1 percent increase for lower and 1.6 percent increase for upper divisions) UH-West Oahu: $3 per credit-hour (3.5 percent) UH community colleges: $2 per credit-hour (4.3 percent) For nonresidents: UH-Manoa: $4 per credit-hour (1 percent) UH-Hilo: lower division, $4-$6 (1.6 percent); upper division, $1-$2 (0.5 percent) UH-West Oahu: $3 (1 percent) UH community colleges: No increase

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University of Hawaii
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