Freeze public-college tuition increases for four years

Four-year tuition freeze did not happen

Updated: Friday, July 8th, 2011 | By W. Gardner Selby

Revisiting an earlier vow, Gov. Rick Perry told lawmakers in February: "As families continue to struggle with the cost of higher education, I am renewing my call for a four-year tuition freeze, locking in tuition rates at or below the freshman level for four years."

No freeze passed into law, though Dominic Chavez, a spokesman for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, alerted us to an adopted tweak in law that could, if universities opt in, allow graduates of two-year institutions to attend four-year colleges at the same unchanged tuition rate for up to 24 months.

Tuition decisions have lately varied.

In late May, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents voted not to increase general tuition this fall, though it signed off on additional charges for students in certain programs, according to a news article in the Bryan Eagle.

In June, the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents approved a 5.9 percent increase in tuition and fees, effective this fall, a decision described by Texas Tech President Guy Bailey as partly offsetting a deficit tied to legislated budget cuts.

The same board increased tuition at Angelo State University by 9.9 percent as of this fall, according to a news article in the San Angelo Standard-Times.

We rate this promise Broken.

Sources:

Texas Legislative Council, House Bill 2999, 2011 regular legislative session