Winthrop University’s board of trustees has voted to lower summer tuition rates by 12 percent, according to a press release from the university.
Summer tuition is normally lowered by 20 percent for in-state students compared to fall and spring tuition. This 12 percent decrease is in addition to the normal decrease and will be offered “this summer only,” according to the press release.
“We recognize the concern many students and families about continuing the Winthrop experience during this unprecedented and challenging economic time. The reduction is the right thing to do as it will help our students benefit from fewer dollars invested in progress toward their degree over the next few months. It is intended to help them stay on track for on-time graduation,” Hynd said in the press release, citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the cause of this financial uncertainty.
While the economic fallout of COVID-19 is driving much of the uncertainty regarding personal finances, Winthrop Provost Adrienne McCormick said in the press release that there are a number of reasons that the decreased summer tuition could be of interest to students.
“This reduction will benefit any student who wants to use summer to maintain momentum in meeting their goals, replace a grade or retake a course, as well as retain or regain their LIFE scholarship,” McCormick said in the press release. “It would also help students stay on track who may need a prerequisite for a fall course or who are looking to change their major.”
According to the press release, the goal of the university is to offer “[80] percent of summer 2020 offerings fully online.” Furthermore, around 100 “additional courses have been identified to move from face-to-face and hybrid formats to fully online offerings, compared to summer 2019.”
Winthrop’s Office of Online Learning has “scheduled additional training to support faculty as they transform face-to-face and hybrid classes into online offerings across the curriculum” in order to make sure that the courses “meet the university’s expectations for high-quality learning experiences,” according to the release.
According to the press release, the tuition decrease breaks down as such: “Tuition per credit hour for in-state students will drop from $511 for undergraduates and $513 for campus-based program graduate students to $450 and $451 respectively. Out-of-state students will see a per credit hour reduction from $1,235 for undergraduates and $1,234 for campus-based program graduates to $1,087 and $1,086 respectively. Out-of-state students pursuing certificate programs will pay $850 per credit hour. Students already receiving specialized tuition discounts for their specific academic programs will continue to receive those same discounts.”
The press release goes on to detail that for programs that are fully online, “credit hour tuition will be $805 for the Master of Arts in arts administration; $686 for the Master of Business Administration; $660 for the Master of Education if special education intervention; and $836 for the Master of Social Work.”
The university’s division of academic affairs made a recommendation to the board of trustees that “Maymester” courses — which run from May 18 until June 5 — and courses that are slated to begin on June 8 “be totally online” while any summer courses “that require on-campus meetings” be scheduled for the final summer session and run from July 13 until Aug. 12.
According to the press release, students who are non-degree seeking as well as students attending other colleges and universities “will be able to take Winthrop classes at the reduced rate as well.”
Graphic courtesy of Jordan Farrel
