1997-1998tuitionincreasesmorethansixpercent

The primary reason for the $11,660 to $12,700 rise is to "upgrade" the academic experience at Cabrini College.

by Becky Raetsch assistant news editor

By now, all students at Cabrini College should have received the notice that was put in all mailboxes which begins with the misleading sentence: "The quality and breadth of your education is of the utmost concern to us."

The letter ·informs students that there will be a tuition increase for the 1997-1998 school year.

Cabrini's tuition increase is up 6.2 percent.

Other private colleges are raising their tuition 4 percent, which is still above the national inflation rate, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Tuition started going up during the 1991-1992 school year and has consistently increased since.

For full-time students, the tuition will be raised from $11,660 to $12,700 and the room and board will be raised from $6,700 to $6,830.

Some officials at other colleges said a major reason for the high tuition increase is due to more financial aid available to students.

Dr. Jim Hirsh, vice president for enrollment services, said the rise in tuition is due to the new utilities Cabrini will soon have to offer.

These new utilities include the Sports and Recreation Complex, an apartment complex and renovations in Sacred Heart Hall.

"I think it [tuition increase] sucks because I feel like I'm paying for everybody else who is coming after I graduate," sophomore Kristi Theis said.

"I think the money should go to academic things rather than sports activities," Theis said.

To accommodate some of the expenses, Cabrini has increased financial aid for students.

"A lot of people are dependent on scholarships and grants and banks are not willing to give," sophomore Gen Aulett said.

According to Hirsh, ·cabrini was $3,000 below Beaver, $1,100 below Chestnut Hill and $800 below Rosemont in tuition for the 1996-1997 school year.

"Most other colleges already have a gym like the one we are getting," Hirsh said.

''What is our tuition money going towards now if we are already paying $11,000 ?" Aulett said.

Hirsh said a major factor for the tuition increase is because of the two new buildings, renovations and an increase in computer technology. Some administrators said it is not always successful to keep tuition in line with inflation because the cost of products to run the college rise faster than the cost of other consumer items.

"We have a committee to give the money back to the students," Hirsh said.

"We are hoping to deliver more in education and to the students," Hirsh said.

According to Hirsh, this is a pragmatic effort to increase cost when utilities go up.

Some students are outraged at the increase in tuition and are concerned when all their money being put into the school is going to pay off.