State Representative Hopes to Pass Tuition Freeze at University of Hawaii

State Representative John Mizuno will be introducing a new bill at the next legislative session which requests a tuition freeze for the entire University of Hawaii system for the 2014-2015 academic year.  This year, undergraduate students who are Hawaii residents pay $4,572 per semester at the UH-Manoa Campus, while nonresident undergraduates pay $13,356 per semester. However, under the current plan, students will see an increase of 7.5 percent per year for the next three years.  This will mean that by the 2016-2017 school year, residents will pay $5,688 per semester while nonresidents would pay $16,452 per semester. Mizuno stated, "These tuition increases are not fair.  It's going to hurt our students."

University of Hawaii's Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, Linda Johnson, stated that the increases are necessary in order to provide classes and programs of quality.  The additional funds will also be used for classroom improvements, financial aid services, operating expenses and enhancing technology across the campuses.  Johnson stated,"I think that our tuition is affordable." Johnson did add that the school did plan to analyze what would happen in Mizuno's proposal does pass into law.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 8-27-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
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