Merten Proposes Tuition Increase

By Connect Mason Asst. News Director Rashad Mulla

President Alan Merten proposed a 10 percent increase in student tuition at a Faculty Senate meeting April 2.

His proposal comes a little over a month after the Board of Visitors discussed increasing tuition by up to 16 percent.

Merten said he had a casual conversation this week with Virginia Governor Tim Kaine about increasing tuition. According to Merten, Kaine was in agreement that the tuition must be raised significantly.

Merten also proposed a Capital Bond bill to help with George Mason’s increasing renovation. Renovation of Science and Tech II will cost $50 million, renovation of the Krasnow Institute will cost $6 million, and the Fine Arts and Finley buildings are also awaiting repair, he said.

After Merten’s speech, the Senate discussed creating a committee to monitor funds being used by the university. The meeting ended without any resolution to the matter and the item will be discussed next meeting.

Also, economics professor Carrie Meyer was nominated to serve on the 2009 Celebration Committee. Finance professor Karen Hallows was nominated to serve on the Student Tuition and Fees Task Force. Director of Forensics Peter Pober was nominated to serve on the Fenwick Fellow Selection Committee.

Economics professor James Bennett, Professor Emerita in the German department Esther Elstun, and Management professor James Harvey were all nominated to serve on the GMU Foundation Board of Trustees. The Board will make a decision to nominate one of them as the faculty appointee.