Tuitionincreased9.7percentforcomingsemester

by Paul Moser sports editor

During the board of trustees' visit to the college this year, they met and voted to increase tuition nearly 10 percent for the second year in a row.

Citing continued upgrades to the college, Dr. Antoinette Iadarola, college president, explained the decision to raise tuition and general fees to equal $16,000 and room and board to $7,200 effective next year as part ol the "blueprint for the new millennium."

"Representatives from all areas of our community have come together once again to create the second phase of that strategic plan," she wrote. "The next step is being taken so that you may benefit from advanced technological opportunities, become empowered by critical thinking, cultivate leadership skills and become exposed to a world of differences."

This was stated in a letter sent to the campus community on Monday.

The main reason, however, for the increase seems to be the same reason for the tuition hike of a year ago: technological advancements for the coming years.

Iadarola went on to say that the college would be doing a great disservice to the students if these upgrades were not met. paid only $11,600 a year, including all fees, when they were first year students.

However, these upgrades are expensive. "Upgrades, however, are extremely costly, despite the ways the College has worked to contain costs," she wrote. "The Board of Trustees, therefore, approved a tuition increase for the College at their recent meeting."

Among the upgrades explained were the renovations to Founders Hall, the addition of four new faculty members and the groundbreaking of a new 160-bed dormitory.

Hall gymnasium. Included in the old advancements that were already completed were the card access systems for the residence halls and Internet access to the dorms.

In what has become a recurring trend of the last ten years, Cabrini has raised its tuition and room and board in excess of the standard rate of inflation. For the last few years, inflation has increased at a rate of about two to three percent annually.

The tuition and fees for next year at $16,000 are $4,400 dollars more than their first-year totals, a 27.5 percent increase.

Iadarola ended the letter by stating different appeals and forms of financial aid students could seek out from the college and on the Internet.

"We encourage you to learn more about the various forms of financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans and work-study) that are available," she wrote.

"I also urge you to contact the financial aid office if you wish to appeal your financial aid package."

-Dr. Antoinette Iadarola, College President, in letter sent to students

During the year 1996-97 to 1997-98, however, the tuition at Cabrini went up 8.9 announcing the tuition increase percent.

The renovations to Founders Hall are part of the Phase II changes to the college. They will include new adjunct faculty offices and a state-of-the-art Communications center to be placed in the old Founders

From the year 199798 to this year, tuition went up 9 .4 percent.

The rate of increase is going to reach an all-time high for this coming year, peaking at a 9. 7 percent increase. Seniors graduating this year originally

Stephen Lightcap, vice president for finance and administration, was unavailable to comment on the situation.

Iadarola said in the letter that by increasing the tuition, the College would also be increasing the quality of its curriculum.

"Increasing the quality of your degree is vital," she wrote. "We will continue to work hard to provide you with a valuebased education ensconced in the tradition of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini."

The college is seeking a new direction and an upgrade to the advancement of higher education, albeit an expensive one.