Emporia State University has been touting its plan to “attack” long-increasing higher education costs recently, and with good reason.
Earlier this month, Emporia State announced it would keep tuition and fees flat for students this upcoming fall, reversing a prior plan to increase both after a recommendation by the Kansas Board of Regents. ESU is also reducing application and parking fees and providing in-state tuition costs across the lower 48 states. Executive Director of Government Relations Greg Schneider, the guest on KVOE’s most recent ESU Buzz segment, says the university needs to take steps like these in large part because state funding has dropped significantly for higher education the past 30 years.
Emporia State has already announced several new and enhanced scholarships over the academic year, and President Ken Hush promises more such announcements this summer.
Schneider says moves like these don’t come without a lot of support, mentioning the regional community, city of Emporia, Lyon County, the ESU Foundation, the Kansas Legislature, Governor Laura Kelly, federal funds and major charitable foundations.
