IUP cleared for fall tuition break, drops mask mandate for most buildings
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has been approved to offer a tuition break next fall to Pennsylvania residents.
IUP officials also dropped a mask mandate for most areas on its main campus, in accordance with the latest guidance on covid-19 precautions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors has endorsed a plan for IUP to offer a flat-rate tuition of $7,716 for in-state students enrolling for anywhere from 12 to 18 academic credits per semester.
The new rate will reduce annual tuition costs nearly 20%, or by $1,854, for Pennsylvania students who take 15 credits per semester. Students taking 18 credits would see their tuition reduced by $3,768, for a 32% savings.
The IUP Council of Trustees proposed the rate change at its Feb. 18 meeting. Sam Smith, who chairs the council and is vice chairman of the Board of Governors, noted the importance of tuition affordability amid competition for students.
IUP in 2016-17 academic year moved away from flat-rate tuition and began charging full-time undergraduates per credit hour. The school has frozen tuition, fees and meal costs for three consecutive years. Housing costs have remained steady since 2016.
Enrollment at IUP and the other 13 state system schools fell this past fall semester to a total of 88,651, the lowest figure in 35 years.
IUP’s enrollment dropped to 9,308, marking the first time since 1969 it had fewer than 10,000 students. That included 7,044 undergraduates, of which 6,660 — or about 95% — were state residents.
At noon Wednesday, IUP dropped its requirement for wearing masks indoors at its main campus. The mask requirement will continue to be in effect for IUP’s Health Service and Counseling Center facilities.
The indoor mask policy also will remain in place at IUP’s Punxsutawney Regional Campus buildings since Jefferson County is among areas still classified as requiring masks under CDC guidelines.
IUP is following the CDC recommendation that anyone wear a mask who has covid symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with covid.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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