I saw that the Des Moines Register reported yesterday that Iowa will be announcing a significant reduction starting Fall 2017 in state taxpayer funded scholarships .
UI President Bruce Harreld states. “ Unfortunately, because of a shortfall in state revenues, the Iowa Legislature decreased funding to the University of Iowa by eight million dollars. This devastating cut has forced us to consider every expenditure and its contribution to our core educational mission of education, research and discovery.”
UI officials said Wednesday the cuts will impact 2,440 resident undergraduate students. The list of scholarships affected includes the Iowa Heritage: A legacy program for incoming freshmen and the Iowa Heritage Transfer: A legacy program for incoming transfer students.
Harreld, told lawmakers that UI's in-state tuition has lagged to the point that it is at the bottom of its peer institutions and would need to increase 34% just to be on a par with peer average.
Iowa presently enjoys the lowest tuition for in state and 4th lowest for out of state students in the Big Ten. Bringing the cost of attendance up to its Big Ten peers may remove a significant financial advantage Iowa has enjoyed in recruiting in those sports offering partial athletic scholarships. i.e. 50% scholarship for an out of state wrestler at Iowa costs the student (parents) $5,000/yr. LESS than a 50% scholarship would at Illinois, Maryland or Penn State. That's a $25,000 total cost differential over 5 years for a red-shirting wrestler attending Iowa.
I truly feel for the 2,400 present students and families who may feel the University of Iowa is going back on a perceived agreement for financial support in their degree pursuit. But Iowa unlike some other schools is providing adequate advance notice so alternative plans can be made.
UI President Bruce Harreld states. “ Unfortunately, because of a shortfall in state revenues, the Iowa Legislature decreased funding to the University of Iowa by eight million dollars. This devastating cut has forced us to consider every expenditure and its contribution to our core educational mission of education, research and discovery.”
UI officials said Wednesday the cuts will impact 2,440 resident undergraduate students. The list of scholarships affected includes the Iowa Heritage: A legacy program for incoming freshmen and the Iowa Heritage Transfer: A legacy program for incoming transfer students.
Harreld, told lawmakers that UI's in-state tuition has lagged to the point that it is at the bottom of its peer institutions and would need to increase 34% just to be on a par with peer average.
Iowa presently enjoys the lowest tuition for in state and 4th lowest for out of state students in the Big Ten. Bringing the cost of attendance up to its Big Ten peers may remove a significant financial advantage Iowa has enjoyed in recruiting in those sports offering partial athletic scholarships. i.e. 50% scholarship for an out of state wrestler at Iowa costs the student (parents) $5,000/yr. LESS than a 50% scholarship would at Illinois, Maryland or Penn State. That's a $25,000 total cost differential over 5 years for a red-shirting wrestler attending Iowa.
I truly feel for the 2,400 present students and families who may feel the University of Iowa is going back on a perceived agreement for financial support in their degree pursuit. But Iowa unlike some other schools is providing adequate advance notice so alternative plans can be made.
