Students and faculty oppose potential tuition and fee increases at Board of Visitors meeting

by NICHOLAS CHAMBERS & ONNOLEE SLATEN

Staff Writers

As the March 14 deadline for the University of Mary Washington’s housing portal quickly approaches, concerns are mounting over a possible increase in tuition and fees that can throw a wrench in the residency decisions of new and returning students. 

Early this month, on Feb. 10, students, faculty and staff received an email informing the UMW community of a possible tuition increase for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. According to the email sent by Executive Director of University Communications Amy Jessee, students could face up to a 4% increase in tuition and 5% increase in auxiliary fees.

In a recent public notice to the campus community, UMW outlined that at the time of the notice, a state budget for the next fiscal year had not been adopted.

“I think it’s extremely unfair to up the prices for future residents,” said Luke Smith, a sophomore business major. “I’m currently weighing my options even more now between an off-campus house and Eagle Landing.” 

For students already concerned about institutional costs, the potential for tuition and auxiliary fee increases adds another layer to the financial picture. 

“It has tempted me to look elsewhere for housing next year,” said Smith 

Considering Mary Washington’s fall 2026 semester starts on Aug. 24, current students who want to lock in a stable housing situation on or around campus before the UMW housing portal closes will have to commit to payment seven months in advance. 

“I wish the housing deadline was later in the semester, that way I could actively leverage the market and not risk forgoing UMW’s housing, for a huge question mark down the line,” said sophomore business major Colin Mitchell.

For students opting to forgo on-campus housing may risk losing financial aid opportunities. In some cases, moving off campus may result in less aid.

On Feb. 19, the Board of Visitors held a public commentary period in regards to the proposed tuition and auxiliary fees increase for the 2026 fall semester in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center Rappahannock Ballroom. 

While only four people signed up to speak before the Board, all four speakers were generally against the tuition raise. 

Physics and astronomy professor and parent of a UMW senior, Matthew Fleenor, argued against the “status quo mindset” that raising tuition is a necessary expense.

He questions the idea that tuition increases are inevitable and necessary to run a college into question.

 “Let me ask who determines what’s possible. Berea College decided 135 years ago that none of their students would ever pay tuition, and it has been that way ever since,” Fleenor said.

He clarified that his argument was not for an extreme overhaul, but for a more balanced and creative approach to easing financial burdens.

“We’re not even talking about tuition-free, but merely reducing the cost of tuition through other ways,” Fleenor said. “Models of product and consumer are not fitting for UMW undergraduate education, pitting the Commonwealth against the students or tuition raises against faculty wages will also not suffice. One part of the body cannot be starved to feed another.” 

Keely Butler, a junior political science major and Young Democratic Socialists of America UMW Chapter co-chair, and Shane Maguire, YDSA secretary and sophomore philosophy: pre-law major, spoke alongside faculty presenters to voice their perspectives.                 

During Butler’s speech, she points to UMW’s promise of affordability as a primary factor for student enrollment and retention. 

“Affordability is what makes UMW stand out,” she said. 

Butler said she recognized that the things that make UMW unique can also make it more difficult to keep the University running. Despite that, she believes that the financial burden should not fall on students to bear.

“I believe students have the right to an affordable education, pushing the onus and addressing inflation onto students is self-destruction,” Butler said. “This beautiful community made of students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford the higher education which you have cultivated will disappear.” 

Butler continues to propose several alternative methods of making up the budgeting discrepancies. 

“Sustainable development is the only way forward,” she said. “There are grants and green bonds available to finance environmental projects and a thriving city in our backyard, full of partnership opportunities.” 

She ended her plea to the Board by citing the first letter in the ASPIRE values: Accountability. 

“So be accountable, and invest in sustainable infrastructure today,”  Butler said. 

As a first-generation college student, cost was one of Maguire’s biggest priorities when picking a college. He skipped class to voice his concerns and criticized the Board’s decision to host open discussion during a period when most students and faculty are in class. 

“I can say this is the case for many other first-generation students, we look at precisely one number when we are determining where we are getting our education,” Maguire said.

Maguire also called the Board’s attention to the current financial situation of lower-income students. 

“I have heard students say that they’ve had to choose between having clean laundry and getting groceries,” he said. “I think we ought to consider that we already have an overburdened student body and an increasing number of first-gen college students.”

He also proposed that UMW lower its acceptance rate, instead of placing more of the burden on students who are already admitted under the pretense of the lower cost. 

The Board of Visitors is scheduled to vote on the possible increase on April 17.