Goodwin College freezes tuition rate for its students

Goodwin College trustees voted to freeze tuition rates for students this year. Photo by Frances Taylor.

In a reversal of the trend among at most state colleges, the Goodwin College Board of Trustees recently approved a one-year tuition freeze.

The freeze came at the request of Goodwin College President Mark Scheinberg, who told the board he wanted to alleviate the financial pressures on students.

Tuition has been on the rise at state colleges and universities for several years now, despite the downturn in the economy, which has made a college education harder to afford for many students. For example, the four schools in the Connecticut State University system could see a 3.8-percent increase in tuition and fees, and students at the 12 community colleges could see a 3.1-percent increase, according to published reports.

The decision to freeze a tuition hike was announced in an e-mail to students on Jan. 20. Scheinberg said the college would have to do some “belt-tightening” to keep costs in check, but added that “years of sound fiscal management” ensured that programs and student services would continue even with the freeze. Scheinberg also noted that an increase in donations to the college would help defray some of the school's operating costs.

Many of the students who attend Goodwin College are returning to school after being in the workforce for a number of years, are raising children, or are switching careers.

“Our students are making tough choices to make ends meet, and we decided it was our turn to help them out,” Scheinberg said. “We are committed to preserving the opportunity for a quality higher education for students of all income levels.”

Joshua Fritho, a business administration student who is student council secretary, said the tuition freeze was good news for students. “So many people right now are dealing with a financial burden,” he said.