Last legislative session, House Bill 29 was passed. This bill states that all Texas institutions must offer a fixed rate tuition plan to all incoming freshmen and transfer students for the next 12 semesters starting in Fall 2014. For MSU however, Vice Presidents of Business Affairs and Finance Marilyn Fowlé said freshmen and transfer students won’t be the only students affected by the bill.

“We’re following the bill. The bill is only requiring us to do it for the entering freshmen or new transfer students. It’s for the 12 semesters and designated tuition, so we don’t have to make it mandatory that all students participate but when we looked at it, it would be better if we tried to simplify it and allow all students to participate in it,” Fowlé said.

The bill was presented at the Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 13. During the meeting, university officials also made the bill mandatory, so every student will be automatically added to the plan next fall.

“To make it more clear, to simplify it, this seemed to be the better way to go,” Fowlé said. “To just make it mandatory and put everybody on it, then there’s no questions about if I’m getting a good deal or am I not getting a good deal. We’re hoping that we are giving everybody a good deal because we are just limiting it to CPI. We’re not trying to make a lot of money off of it, we’re just trying to cover the cost and keep it to CPI.”

Seniors will see a 4.5 percent increase, juniors a 5.5 increase and sophomores a 6.5 increase. This bill will only affect the designated tuition, other fees will not be included.

New Bill Takes Effect Next Fall from MWSU Campus Watch on Vimeo.