Wednesday, April 20, 2011

It's time to deal with the problem of higher education costs

LEXINGTON, KY--A family advocacy group which has called for a tuition moratorium is pointing to tuition increases by two more state universities as further evidence that action by state officials is needed. The Family Foundation has announced that it will be pursuing a tuition moratorium in the next legislative session. But because of the new announcements by the University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University that they are raising their tuition rates--UK by 6 percent and EKU by 5 percent--the group is now calling for quicker action.

"When gas stations in Jefferson County dramatically increased their prices several years ago, the Attorney General launched an investigation because of the effect on the public," said Martin Cothran, spokesman for The Family Foundation. "Universities are increasing their prices at almost three times the rate of inflation. Where are the investigations?"

Cothran said that state officials and policymakers have been averting their gaze from the problem for years. "The problem is not just that no one has proposed a solution: the problem is that no one has even tried to address it. Well, the time has come."

The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education is meeting on April 28 and has the power to approve or reject the proposed increases.

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