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Tuition for continuing students is raised every year to match inflation according to the university's tuition indexing plan, which was introduced in 1994. Under that plan, tuition increases are tied to movement in the Consumer Price Index. That plan, however, applies to a class as it passes from one year to the next but makes no pledge to limit increases on incoming classes.

Reaction to the Board's decision was mixed.

"It's hard to say if [the increase] is needed or not, but if its purpose is to keep up with the economy ... and maintain the quality of education, it's worth the sacrifice," Hanszen College freshman Charlie Walker said.

That opinion is in line with President Malcolm Gillis' view. "After all, it is still true that our average tuition is still extremely low. Overall, the average tuition [for all undergraduates] is $11,625," Gillis said.

`We are quickly becoming an expensive school, and we cannot afford to do so.'

-- Charles Klein Sid Richardson College senior

Sid Richardson College senior Charles Klein, though, was concerned that an increase of that size would hurt students while failing to provide significant new funding for the university. "Such a small part of what it costs to run the university comes from tuitions in the first place, especially at a time when the endowment has a twenty-five percent return," he said.

According to a financial performance report completed by Cambridge Associates Inc. in 1993-'94, tuition comprises less than 20 percent of Rice's total revenue.

In comparison, Rice's endowment provides for about 45 percent of its total revenue (other sources include gifts, grants and federal, state and local government funding).

"I think the university has gone too far with the recent 8.5 percent increase," Klein said. "We are quickly becoming an expensive school, and we cannot afford to do so. We do not have the national reputation to compete with the big boys, and constantly increasing the tuition is forcing excellent students away from Rice."

Gillis, on the other hand, believes the cost of a Rice education is competitive and that a large percentage increase means little when compared to low total costs.

"The fact remains that our average tuition is about fifty-five percent of those other institutions [like Harvard, Stanford, Duke and others]," Gillis said. "That is why Rice students graduate with lower debt than any other students in the country -- that's compared with any school, public or private."

Klein has seen those statistics and still disapproves of the change.

"The administration will justify the increase with statistics about lower debt and lower overall cost, but there is no real understanding of the impact of this continual escalation in tuition," he said.

`We have no apologies to make about our tuition policy whatsoever.'

-- Malcolm Gillis President Rice University

According to Gillis, the new construction on campus also justifies a tuition increase, as the facilities that will be available to new students increase the quality of education.

He indicated that student tuitions will probably never come close to covering the cost of new buildings.

Gillis was informed that some students were very concerned with percentage increases that exceed those of Ivy League schools.

"[They're concerned] because not many of them are paying the bills," he said. "We are one of the least expensive schools to attend, and we offer substantial amounts of financial aid. We have no apologies to make about our tuition policy whatsoever."

Further details about increases in graduate and undergraduate tuition, maximum room and board rates and mandatory fees are able to be accessed online at http://riceinfo.rice.edu/projects/reno/rn/19970403/tuition.html .

This item appeared in the News section of the April 11, 1997 issue.