The unique model Millersville University is using to reduce student costs

Students will pay a "flat tuition"

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

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Aired; January 16th, 2024.

Between 1980 and 2020, the average price of tuition, fees and room and board for an undergraduate degree at colleges and universities in the U.S. increased 169%, according to a recent report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. Since the COVID pandemic, college costs have actually held steady, but the average 2020 price tag of $28,775 has kept some would-be-students from getting a degree – even though most students or their families don’t pay the full amount since they get financial aid.

The institutions are well aware that the cost to attend is high.

Millersville University in Lancaster County is trying something new that will reduce costs for students in several ways, by adopting a “flat tuition price” rather than charging students on a per credit model.

On The Spark Tuesday, Millersville University President Dr. Daniel Wubah explained,”The model that we’ve adopted that’s actually on its own has a fee, a flat rate that in the past it basically says universities should be asking students to pay on a semester basis between 12 and 18 credits. So a student in the PASSHE (Pennsylvania System of Higher Education) system currently would typically pay $7,716 per year taken between 12 to 18 credits each semester, meaning they can take up to 26, 30 to 36 credits per year. That is what PASSHE and the Board of Governors have approved under the per credit tuition model. What the universities  then did was and they actually started requiring students to pay based on the number of credits. So if a student, for example was taking 15 credits, it means they will pay an additional three credits beyond the $7,716 that the floor that PASSHE has allowed us to do. So students in most cases had to pay extra for credits beyond 12 credits each semester. And that is how additional revenues were generated. Now, (the) move is back to the 7,716 for students to take between 12 and 18 credits. So for something that is today for credits that student paid this academic year, next year, they can take up to six extra credits without paying any additional funds.”

Wubah said the university has been reducing expenditures by reducing staff-to-student ratio and examining any staff opening that comes up.

Dr. Wubah said the university hopes to know within two years whether the changes adopted have been a success in maintaining revenue and increasing students enrollment.

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