Regional course and online tuition rates set for 2013-14

KALAMAZOO—The Western Michigan University Board of Trustees has approved a simplified tuition structure for online courses along with a 3.57 percent tuition increase for courses offered at WMU's regional locations and removal of a fee that was charged only at WMU's Traverse City location.

Acting at its June 12 meeting, the board signed off on recommendations to:

• Assess all undergraduate-level, 100 percent online courses at the same per-credit-hour rate charged for on-campus, resident freshmen and sophomores—$327.31 per credit hour—plus a $60 per-credit course fee;
• Increase tuition by 3.57 percent at all regional locations, resulting in tuition of $392.18 per credit hour for undergraduate courses and $554.40 per credit hour for graduate-level courses and graduate-level online courses;
• Continue a $20 per class technology fee for face-to-face courses at regional locations and graduate online classes; and
• Discontinue a $10 per credit hour fee now being charged to students taking courses at WMU-Traverse City.

"Our inclusive tuition rate is designed to benefit nontraditoinal students taking courses at WMU regional locations," said Dr. Dawn Gaymer, associate provost for Extended University Programs, in presenting her recommendations to the trustees. "These are typically working adults whose tuition is often paid at least in part by their employers. And since we draw no distinction between resident and nonresident rates, EUP students can take 100 percent online courses from any location."

The new rates apply to courses offered through Extended University Programs online or at one of WMU's regional locations in seven Michigan cities.