University of Virginia Should Freeze Tuition, Say Fairfax State Senators

FAIRFAX CITY — Senators Chap Petersen (D-Faifax City) and Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) want the University of Virginia to stop tuition hikes following the recent revelation of a $2.3 billion operating surplus the Charlottesville school calls a "Strategic Investment Fund."

"It is incumbent upon the board [of visitors] to place a moratorium on tuition and fee increases, effective January 1, 2017, until such time it can determine a plan to appropriately reduce the unauthorized surplus in public funds," the senators wrote in their letter to U.Va. Rector William H. Goodwin Jr.

On his Facebook page, Petersen explained his rationale.

"We need to, a minimum, freeze tuition until we can figure out what's going on with this $2.3 billion dollars," he said. "There is no reason to have a surplus of operating funds, at least of that size, unless you are systematically overcharging for services."

Added Surovell: "The most appropriate policy would be freezing or reducing tuition at all of the university's schools including graduate programs until this reserve is reduced to a more appropriate level."

Goodwin has defended the fund, writing on the university's website that, "The University of Virginia’s Strategic Investment Fund is anything but a so-called “slush fund,” as it recently has been mischaracterized. That makes for catchy headlines, but it is false and irresponsible.

". . .In truth, this fund is as an extraordinary opportunity to improve academic quality, help minimize tuition costs and student debt, conduct research that benefits society, and offer world-class medical care."

Photo: Sen. Chap Petersen official website