Tuition fees to increase by four percent

Pursuant to a Commission on Higher Education Memorandum, stakeholders of a university must reach a consensus on the tuition fee increase on or before February 28. If no consensus is reached, the University, barring all other circumstances, may increase tuition fees by any percentage it deems fit.

This month, the University, along with other stakeholders, has reached a decision to increase tuition fees by four percent for current DLSU students while incoming students will see tuitions rise by five percent as compared to the amount they would have paid last year. Moreover, miscellaneous fees would also increase by three percent.

Every third term, members of a multi-sectoral committee on tuition fee increase headed by DLSU Parents of University Students Organization (PUSO) meet to discuss the University’s finances and the exact percent increase in tuition fee rates that would satisfy all stakeholders in the University.

Members of the committee include the De La Salle Employees Association (EA), Faculty Association (FA), Br. Bernie Oca FSC, DLSU Vice Chancellor for Administration Agnes Yuhico, DLSU PUSO and the USG. The committee looks into the University’s financial statements to arrive at a reasonable consensus. A representative from the Accounting Office is present during the meetings to explain and interpret the financial statements.

Multi-sectoral committee member and USG Executive Treasurer Carlo Inocencio explains that the meeting has been rescheduled repeatedly because members from the other sectors could not make it to the meetings.

Moreover there are some documents that are needed to be clarified before they have the meeting.

Different rates

University Student Government President Jana Cabuhat explains that the USG is asking for a 0-3 percent increase in tuition fees. She furthers that this year is the best year to ask the University to hold on to the tuition fee increase because DLSU posted a 400 percent increase in donations, which could subsidize or at least reduce the need to increase tuition fees.

The USG has, in the past few years, based its recommendation for tuition fee increase on the inflation rate of the country. Cabuhat explains that this year, the country’s inflation rate is not that high. She also adds that the inflation rate this year is lower than what the University had expected, which was already incorporated in last year’s tuition fee increase debate.

The University is asking for a 4-5 percent increase this year in preparation for additional expenses to be incurred in the integration process of DLSU and the new Science and Technology Complex in Canlubang. The Faculty Association (FA) is, however, asking for an 8-10 percent increase to keep their salaries competitive and to increase their purchasing power.

Inocencio says that the construction at STC may have an effect on the amount of increase in the tuition fee for next year; however the University has other sources of revenue, which could offset the amount of increase. Tuition fees only make up a part of the University’s income.

Executive Vice President of Finance Nilo Pacheco Jr., clarifies, however, that tuition fees bear the brunt of the University’s expenses. Though La Salle has income from food concessionaries and the Lasallian dormintory, the receipts are very small in comparison to the collections received from student tuition fees.

In an interview with DLSU President and Chancellor Br. Ricky Laguda FSC, he explains that the University has halted some of the construction plans within the campus in favor of more important construction projects such as the construction of a building for grade school and high school students at STC since all grade levels, including college students, are using the same buildings.

Cabuhat, however, argues that the University needs to justify spending at STC since the students at DLSU who would be shouldering the costs of the integration would not benefit from the new construction efforts.

Other factors

Pacheco acknowledges that the University will be incurring bigger costs this year. Aside from the inflation rate, he verifies Br. Ricky’s statement that the construction of academic and research facilities and related infrastructure at STC would add to DLSU’s expenses.

In addition, the implementation of K-12 connotes a reduction of at least 85 percent in freshmen enrollment by 2016-17 and 2017-18. Pacheco argues that the University needs to continue to function even with a low enrollment rate. Hence, the University needs to prepare enough funds for operations until enrollment rates would start to increase.

Regarding the possibility of an increase in tuition fees after the effects of K+12, Br. Ricky mentions that tuition fees would continue to increase as the University tries to push for better and more facilities. Moreover, the University needs to allot more funds to develop and train faculty in the years to come.

As per CHED rules, 70 percent of the increase in tuition fees must go to salaries and compensation of faculty.

Impact to the students

While some students believe that increasing the salaries of DLSU’s faculty is necessary, some argue that the amount allocated to facilities and the resulting increase in their tuition fees is not justified because they do not benefit from the facilities.

Other students are amicable with the increase, but demand efficiency from the University’s services. Student Patricia Nieva furthers, “If the services of the University improve, most especially the ITS, which is really a big problem, I am willing to pay the amount of increase.”

On the contrary, when asked about his opinion regarding the possible increase in tuition fee, student Chester Lim expounds, “Since money’s potential increases in value over time, we cannot blame the University if there will be an increase in the tuition fee. However, the institution must have a reasonable explanation for this. The amount of increase must be informed to the students and parents as early as possible so that there will be enough time for them to raise their concerns.”
Pacheco acknowledges that the student population is not affected in the past three years. Though there are some who are, most of the upcoming freshmen do not consider tuition fees as a big factor in enrolling here. He furthers that most of them really want the course they passed in the DLSU-College Entrance Test (CET) while others have siblings who are already studying at the University.