SVSU planning tuition freeze for 2020-21

Saginaw Valley State University President Donald Bachand announced plans to freeze tuition for the upcoming academic year in a message to the campus community Friday, May 1. 

 

“I am recommending to our Board of Control that we freeze tuition for the 2020-21 academic year,” Bachand said. “Many families are facing financial challenges. This is one way in which we can assist students and families and provide some reassurance to them. Online fees will be removed to ensure that an SVSU degree remains affordable and within reach. While this decision ultimately rests with our Board, it is important to make our intentions clear so that students and families can plan.” 

 

Bachand also announced that he and other SVSU executives will be taking pay cuts. 

 

“I will be taking a pay cut of 10%, effective immediately. Our other senior executive and leadership teams will be taking pay cuts of 5% to 10%, as well. It is the right and responsible thing to do as we build a budget that still contains many variables,” he said. 

 

All SVSU classes for the spring and summer have been moved online, and online fees have been waived. The spring term begins May 11, and the summer term begins June 29. 

 

Currently, more than 100 SVSU staff members are on temporary COVID-19 leave. Some are on full-time leave, while others are on partial leave and working reduced hours. The university is continuing health insurance coverage for all affected employees. 

 

University preparations continue to welcome faculty, staff and students back to campus in phases, once this can be done safely. Several internal teams have been established to develop plans for reopening campus activity, both in the short-term and for the fall semester. 

 

“Our students want to return to their university in the fall,” Bachand said. “They are showing this through their actions. We have received more housing deposits from returning students than had been received than at this time last year. This is truly remarkable, given how many questions remain unanswered and how many families are in financial distress. It demonstrates a show of faith from our students, and it should renew faith in all of us.” 

 

SVSU’s scheduled Commencement exercises for next Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 have been postponed. The university will be honoring our May and August graduates in a virtual celebration next Friday, May 8 at 5 p.m. Information will be posted at www.svsu.edu/commencement.