The university is sending a letter this week to returning students about next year’s new rate structure for tuition, room, board and fees. The rate structure reflects a total combined increase of 6.2 percent, assuming a double room and a traditional meal plan. We recognize that increases in our tuition and other charges can create challenges for our students and their families. In the letter, we encourage students facing financial difficulties to meet with staff in our financial aid and/or student accounting services offices to discuss their circumstances and options. Please encourage students to access these resources if you believe they will be helpful.
The new rate structure reflects a number of considerations. The large 2009-10 incoming class intensified the need for expanding residence hall, dining, recreation and intramural space for students; planning is underway on these important projects. We also are hiring a number of faculty members in order to maintain our low student-to-faculty ratio that is so important to the teaching and learning experience at Whitworth.
This fall, we will open Robinson Science Hall with state-of-the-art laboratories, instrumentation and research facilities for biology and chemistry students. This building adds significant costs to the university’s operations, but it is vitally important for serving the 50 percent increase in science majors Whitworth has seen over the past decade. In addition, our draft 2011-2021 strategic plan calls for a variety of exciting initiatives that will enrich and expand educational opportunities for our students and prepare them to succeed in careers or graduate school.
Enclosed with the letter was a chart showing Whitworth’s tuition compared to 13 other private colleges and universities in the Northwest. Whitworth’s 2010-11 tuition was 90.5 percent of the average of these schools and lags several of our top cross-application schools.
