Earlier in the year, SRU's board of trustees initially moved forward in budget discussion by sending a request to PASSHE for a 3.5 percent increase to tuition for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

Students attending state-owned universities, including Slippery Rock University, will see the same tuition they saw last year.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a tuition freeze for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

“We did it last year. We will do it this year,” said Chancellor Dan Greenstein. “We recommend to the board that we freeze tuition for 2020-21.”

Board chairwoman Cynthia Shapira said today's COVID-19 climate has hurt families across the state and country, and it would not be fair to push additional financial burden on students and their families.

“I believe this is the first time in PASSHE history that we have frozen tuition for two consecutive years,” Shapira said. “That demonstrates our commitment to our students.”

Slippery Rock University President William Behre attended the online Zoom meeting of the board Wednesday. Last year, when the system imposed a price freeze, Behre voiced his concern that it was not a long-term solution.

Earlier in the year, SRU's board of trustees initially moved forward in budget discussion by sending a request to PASSHE for a 3.5 percent increase to tuition for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

Behre said two weeks after realizing the extent of the pandemic, university officials rescinded that request.

“In the current context, the only prudent thing to do is make costs more predictable for our students,” Behre said.

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