College Shorts

Ohio University considers guaranteed tuition rate

Ohio University is considering implementing a four-year fixed tuition rate for undergraduate students. Administrators at the university view fixed tuition as an incentive for students to graduate within four years, as tuition would be raised if a student were to enroll for a fifth year. The set rate would also help families to better plan how much money they would need to set aside for tuition and possibly assuage concerns about student debt.

The state of Ohio caps educational tuition increases at 3.5 percent . This figure would conflict with the estimated tuition increase of at least five percent for each incoming class at Ohio University. As a result, state legislative approval would be required if the university decides to move forward with its plan for fixed tuition.

The Ohio University Board of Trustees will vote on the guaranteed tuition program in April.

— The Columbus Dispatch

 

Typhoid fever found at Purdue University

A Purdue University food handler has tested positive for typhoid fever, according to state health officials. Local and university health officials are working with the Indiana State Department of Health to assess public risk.

While the infected person reportedly wore gloves during food preparation and had minimal contact with the food, Typhoid fever is highly contagious. Roughly 400 cases of Typhoid fever occur annually in the United States, though the disease is more prevalent in developing countries. Approximately 75 percent of patients acquired the disease while traveling internationally, as is the case with the Purdue University staff member.

Additional cases of Typhoid fever at Purdue have not yet been reported.

— Fox 59 (Fox News)

 

Utah Valley University revokes full scholarships

Due to a clerical error, Utah Valley University gave four-year full tuition awards to 300 high school seniors, only to revoke the scholarships two weeks later.

The scholarship, worth $4,122 a year, is usually awarded based on students’ grades and academic achievement testing. Due to a computer glitch, 300 students whose test scores qualified but whose grades did not in fact meet the scholarship standards were accidently awarded the money.

“This is an extremely rare occurrence, but due to an unfortunate technical glitch in our system, some individuals received scholarship offer letters who did not qualify for the scholarship,” university spokesman Chris Taylor told The Deseret News.

In an attempt to remedy its mistake, Utah Valley University has waived the February 1 deadline for other financial awards for those falsely given full scholarships.

Regular tuition at Utah Valley University is just over half of the national average.

 

— The Deseret News