STORRS, Conn. (AP) - Officials at the University of Connecticut floated a plan Wednesday that would trim the school’s planned tuition hike, citing the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students.
UConn had previously planned for a 4.3% increase, or $625, for in-state students this coming fall. The new proposal, which must be approved the the school’s Board of Trustees, would cut the hike to 2.2%, or $312.
The plan, presented during a video conference town hall on Wednesday, also would freeze room and board and other fees for the next academic year.
“We’re doing this for a number of reasons, but all of it is related to the understanding of the financial stress that we are all under during the COVID crisis,” Scott Jordan, UConn’s chief financial officer, said.
The board is expected to vote on the proposed changes on Feb. 24.
In other coronavirus related news:
TEACHERS TURN?
Connecticut’s largest teachers’ union on Wednesday began running a new TV ad that encourages state officials to begin vaccinating teachers immediately.
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday said essential workers, including teachers, should learn in about 10 weeks how to sign up for COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Vaccinations are expected to be made available to people with certain medical conditions at about the same time.
Currently, only health care worker and residents over 65 years of age are eligible to be inoculated.
“Our students can’t wait,” said Jeff Leake, president of the Connecticut Education Association in a written statement. He said “the time is now to vaccinate teachers and school staff” so they can focus on their students without jeopardizing their health.
CEA said while Lamont “recognizes that educators and staff should be prioritized” for vaccinations, Connecticut has not yet joined more than half of the states in the U.S. that are already vaccinating teachers.
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