Students here at Virginia State University might see some surprising changes to their tuition in the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
The tuition increase comes as a result of the Board of Visitors meeting that took place this past Thursday, Feb. 6. During the meeting, the visitors and the VSU staff discussed many things concerning the tuition.
Daphne L. Meeks, head chair of facilities and finance, explained that the tuition increase came as an agreement between faculty, staff, and students.
“The University Administration has held a number of informational sessions with faculty, staff, and students to review,” Meeks said.
Meeks also added that the decision about the tuition increase isn’t final until the Board of Visitors comes together to vote on the proposal on March 20.
The Board of Visitors explained that the budget was reviewed by Kevin W. Davenport, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, on Dec. 31, 2024. Davenport said that VSU’s budget was said to be in the millions.
“The University cash position is about $100 million,” Davenport said. “The cash position is good but there are concerns with the auxiliary reserve cast position.”
Davenport added that even though the university is in good standing to finish the year with sixteen million dollars in the school budget, he warns that the budget could sink down to ten million dollars.
Davenport believes that some of the things that caused the budget to be in an unstable place was because of some of the things that the budget was spent on.
“This is due to increased cost for police and security residents, life and student aid,” Davenport said.
The meeting concluded with Davenport saying that Virginia’s State finances and tuition are in good shape, but that the university is going to have to cut back on some things which might make the tuition increase.
“Our finances are in good shape, but we need to trim back spending for the remainder of the year and for the next fiscal year,” Davenport said.
