Did tuition deregulation give students a voice or cost them money? - Con
By: Mark McCaig
Issue date: 3/10/05 Section: Opinion
June 1, 2003, is a day that will live in infamy for all current and future students of public universities in Texas. On that day, the Texas legislature passed House Bill 3015, which effectively transferred the authority to set tuition rates from the legislature to the board of regents of each state university system. This law, which is more commonly known by misleading moniker "tuition deregulation," has had a disastrous impact on college students and their families in the brief time that it has been in effect.
The idea of tuition deregulation was championed by the University of Texas system, and its belief that deregulation was necessary in order for it to receive the funding it felt was necessary. This idea was greeted with open arms by many members of the Texas legislature, most notably Speaker Tom Craddick, House higher education committee chair Geanie Morrison and State Rep. Fred Brown, who represents Texas A&M.
Tuition deregulation was never necessary for any university to increase its tuition rates. Prior to the passage of House Bill 3015, universities could go to the legislature and request that it increase the cap on how much tuition the universities could charge. This left the decision on tuition rates to the elected representatives of the citizens of Texas. This system also forced the universities to be held accountable for how they spent the money they already had. However, with tuition deregulation now law, the final decision on tuition rates rests with university regents, who are not elected officials.
In order to gain support for tuition deregulation, the university systems assured members of the legislature they would not abuse the new power. According to the Houston Chronicle, on June 1, 2003, State Sen. Steve Ogden, whose district includes A&M, stated that members of the Texas A&M Board of Regents assured him that tuition rates would not increase dramatically.
On March 26, 2004, less than a year after reportedly telling Ogden that it would not abuse its power to set tuition rates, the Texas A&M Board of Regents increased tuition rates by 21 percent.
The idea of tuition deregulation was championed by the University of Texas system, and its belief that deregulation was necessary in order for it to receive the funding it felt was necessary. This idea was greeted with open arms by many members of the Texas legislature, most notably Speaker Tom Craddick, House higher education committee chair Geanie Morrison and State Rep. Fred Brown, who represents Texas A&M.
Tuition deregulation was never necessary for any university to increase its tuition rates. Prior to the passage of House Bill 3015, universities could go to the legislature and request that it increase the cap on how much tuition the universities could charge. This left the decision on tuition rates to the elected representatives of the citizens of Texas. This system also forced the universities to be held accountable for how they spent the money they already had. However, with tuition deregulation now law, the final decision on tuition rates rests with university regents, who are not elected officials.
In order to gain support for tuition deregulation, the university systems assured members of the legislature they would not abuse the new power. According to the Houston Chronicle, on June 1, 2003, State Sen. Steve Ogden, whose district includes A&M, stated that members of the Texas A&M Board of Regents assured him that tuition rates would not increase dramatically.
On March 26, 2004, less than a year after reportedly telling Ogden that it would not abuse its power to set tuition rates, the Texas A&M Board of Regents increased tuition rates by 21 percent.
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