From Metro New West Virginia comes an article about spread of the fiscally questionable tuition freeze for college tuition. According to the piece:
Governor Joe Manchin’s call for a freeze on tuition and fees at all state colleges and universities is being taken “very seriously.”
Education Chancellor [Brian] Noland says the governor’s call dominated discussion during Friday’s Higher Education Policy Commission meeting in Charleston.
“It’s a suggestion that’s being taken very seriously and being analyzed from all aspects,” Noland said. “The commission has asked the presidents to examine the long term impacts of tuition and fees and state revenues.”
The long term impact isn’t much of a mystery. It will result in economic strain and possible layoffs for West Virginia colleges and huge tuition increases in coming years.
During his annual State of the State address on January 13 Governor Manchin called for a one-year tuition freeze at all West Virginia public colleges.
According to the latest available data from the Digest of Education Statistics, the average undergraduate tuition and required fees at West Virginia public colleges was $4,377 a year, the ninth lowest rate in the nation.
