SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s six public universities and one community college will roll back student fees for fall semester with an eye on keeping college affordable and as an acknowledgement some services will not be available on campuses this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reductions range from 40% at Southern Utah University to 15% at Weber State University and Salt Lake Community Community College. The University of Utah, Utah State University and Utah Valley University will reduce fees by 25%.
At SUU, the average full-time student will realize a $152.70 reduction in fees. This cut comes on top of the university’s decision last spring not to increase tuition or fees for the second consecutive year.
SUU President Scott L Wyatt said in a statement that the university is committed to helping students finish their degrees amid a global pandemic and economic downturn.
“The university is committed to keeping the campus as safe as possible for all students, faculty, staff and community members,” said Wyatt. “We have been very careful with our budgets and can manage this fee reduction for one semester in order to help our students and their families who are supporting them.”
At the state’s two public research universities, the U. and USU collaborated on the fee reductions, officials noted in their respective announcements.
Mark Winter, associate vice president for budget at the U., said the university will provide a $150 credit to full-time students to reduce their fees during fall semester.
“As a public institution, the university works to operate as closely to actual costs as possible and we are committed to work diligently to keep those costs as low as possible in the interest of helping students stay in school and complete their degrees,” Winter said.
Annual student tuition and fees are about equal to state appropriations in the University of Utah’s budget — approximately $367 million each.
At USU, fees will also be lowered by $150 for full-time students on its Logan campus and by $95 for full-time students on its statewide campuses.
“We are all feeling the crunch of the severe budget constraints this pandemic is causing, and I want our Aggie students to know that I recognize that we are all in this together,” said USU President Noelle Cockett in a statement Tuesday.
UVU announced that it will provide a one-time waiver to reduce student fees by 25% for the fall semester. The waiver will be posted to students’ accounts in mid-September.
“UVU has a long-standing commitment to affordability for taxpayers and students, including carefully managing general student fees,” said Wayne Vaught, UVU’s provost and vice president of Academic Affairs.
“We provide accessible and equitable educational opportunities for every student who wants to receive a rewarding postsecondary education.”
UVU has had the lowest student fees of all Utah’s four-year institutions since 2015-16, according to the university.
Dixie State University plans to reduce fees by 27%, about $113 for a full-time student.
“While the institution and the DSU Association are working creatively through the pandemic to provide the ‘Active learning. Active life.’ experiences that are synonymous with a Dixie education, DSU recognizes that it is not feasible to make certain services and opportunities available to students amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement by the university states.
At Weber State University, fees will drop by $75.
“Despite the decrease, Weber State is committed to maintaining all services funded through student fees such as the student health center, disability services, campus recreation and counseling and psychological services,” spokeswoman Allison Barlow Hess wrote in an email.
SLCC will also continue to waive the $15 co-pay for health and counseling visits, said spokesman Joy Tlou. It has also deferred a 1.5% tuition increase until spring 2021.
Snow College does not plan to waive student fees this fall, spokeswoman Marci Larsen said.