Contact: Tiffany Eddy
USNH
(603) 657-6471; tiffany.eddy@usnh.edu

Sept. 15, 2014

USNH Board of Trustees Seeks Restoration of Funding to 2009 Levels
 Pledge to Continue Tuition Freeze to all NH Students to Four Years in a Row

CONCORD, N.H. -- The University System of New Hampshire board of trustees voted unanimously to submit a funding request to the state legislature that restores state support to the level provided in 2009. In return, USNH would guarantee a second two-year freeze on tuition for New Hampshire students and their families. Additionally, USNH will increase scholarship support for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs and for workforce partnerships with the community college system. Those students targeted with additional STEM scholarships would experience an overall decrease in their tuition bill beyond the "freeze" levels. 

"We are grateful for the support of the state legislature that allowed us to implement the first two-year in-state tuition freeze and we are eager to continue that partnership for a total of four years," said Pamela Diamantis, chair of the USNH board of trustees.  "For the first time in recent history, a New Hampshire family sending their son or daughter to a USNH campus will have no increase in tuition for their entire four-year college experience. With the help of our state elected leaders, we can all be very proud of that accomplishment. It is critical for the future of our state and its continued economic growth that we strengthen our strong commitment to making public higher education more affordable for the more than 20,000 New Hampshire students who will help us meet the state's workforce demands."

In addition to extending the in-state tuition freeze an additional two years, a full restoration of public support for USNH will result in scholarships for STEM programs. USNH is the state's primary supplier of STEM bachelor's degrees awarding more four-year STEM degrees in 2013 than all other New Hampshire institutions combined. The funding will also provide support for partnership programs with the state's community college system that target specific workforce needs.

"Our institutions continue to find ways to operate efficiently and effectively while maintaining the high quality education our students deserve," said Todd Leach, chancellor of USNH. "Funding this request will allow us to meets the needs of New Hampshire students and families by providing an affordable education and at the same time continue our partnership with New Hampshire's business community by providing more STEM graduates to meet their needs and those of our state's economy. Together we can make a difference."

The university system request is for $100 million in fiscal year 2016 and $105 million in fiscal year 2017.

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