The Higher Education Student Funding Act states the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the Commissioner of Higher Education have a role in reviewing the tuition process. Institutions that increase tuition at rates that exceed the rate of inflation must either return a portion of their state appropriations to the state or must ask the Commissioner to waive the financial penalty in whole or in part.
Missouri Southern State University recently notified the department of its anticipated 15 percent tuition increase for the 2018-19 school year. Commissioner Zora Mulligan notified Missouri Southern State University that the proposed increase would trigger HESFA. Missouri Southern State University has submitted a penalty waiver request.
In accordance with the HESFA policy, members of the public may submit written comment on this request to jeffrey.barlow@dhe.mo.gov before June 19 at 5 p.m. All submitted comments will be shared with the institution and the Commissioner may consider the comments in determining whether to grant a waiver.
To read MSSU’s waiver request, which includes its justification for the tuition increase, please visit the MDHE website. Learn more at dhe.mo.gov/policies/hesfapubliccomment.php.