Baylor Approves Tuition Increase, Fixed-Rate Plan

WACO, Texas - Baylor University's Board of Regents today approved a 7.1 tuition increase for the 1997-98 year, with overall costs, including room, board and fees, to reflect a 6.5 percent increase, effective June 1, 1997.
Tuition rates will increase from the current charge of $269 per semester hour to $288. A full year's tuition (based on 30 hours) will increase from the current figure of $8,070 to $8,640.
Regents also approved a "locked-in" tuition figure for a 4-year period for students wishing to secure fixed tuition rates. Under the plan, a student would pay $317 per semester hour for a 4-year period. Students requesting such a fixed rate would be required to pay the $317 per hour rate beginning with the fall 1997 semester, according to Dr. Stan S. Madden, vice president for university marketing.
Locked-in rates would apply for the 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 academic years, Madden said. Such a fixed rate would amount to a 6.8 percent increase a year, he said.
"We are trying to do everything possible to keep costs down and make a Baylor education affordable to all students," Madden said.
"We want to give students and their families as many options as possible to control their own cost situation. The fixed tuition rate has been adopted by several other schools, and we want to be able to offer a similar cost package at Baylor for those students who are interested in such plan."
In other action, the Board:
* Approved moving the Department of Recreational Sports from the School of Education to the dean for student campus life, currently Dr. Martha Lou Scott. The program will include all intramural and club sports.

"We hope to be able to tailor-make the program to fit the needs of the student body," Dr. William D. Hillis, vice president for student life, said. "We feel the program will be effective in the physical development of our students and help to enrich their lives while they at Baylor."
Baylor currently has more than 8,000 students involved in intramural sports and between 500-1,000 in club sports, which include badminton, cycling, water skiing, karate, sailing, lacrosse, men's soccer and men's volleyball.