Spring Break
GW University President speaks about raising cost of tuition
Issue date: 2/28/08
George Washington University President Steven Knapp defended rising tuition costs last week on a live C-SPAN broadcast.
Knapp, who served as Hopkins's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs until last year, said that GWU's small endowment, when compared to similar private universities, is the primary reason behind the increasing tuition.
In recent years, the University has required more money for energy costs, unfunded federal directives regarding national security and innovations that keep the school competitive in the rankings.
Knapp's assertion about the necessity of increased costs does not come without concern, however.
He stated that his primary worry is about student debt after graduation but that there are ways to avoid the burden.
A new plan he recently disclosed would moderate tuition increases, lower housing costs and improve financial aids to incoming students.
This plan is accompanied by Knapp's goal to decrease student debt by one-third in the next five years. Another concern Knapp has is that high tuition may prevent certain students from applying to private colleges and universities in the future, although this has not been a problem so far.
Knapp, who served as Hopkins's provost and senior vice president for academic affairs until last year, said that GWU's small endowment, when compared to similar private universities, is the primary reason behind the increasing tuition.
In recent years, the University has required more money for energy costs, unfunded federal directives regarding national security and innovations that keep the school competitive in the rankings.
Knapp's assertion about the necessity of increased costs does not come without concern, however.
He stated that his primary worry is about student debt after graduation but that there are ways to avoid the burden.
A new plan he recently disclosed would moderate tuition increases, lower housing costs and improve financial aids to incoming students.
This plan is accompanied by Knapp's goal to decrease student debt by one-third in the next five years. Another concern Knapp has is that high tuition may prevent certain students from applying to private colleges and universities in the future, although this has not been a problem so far.
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