ALONG WITH the prices of rice and gasoline, the University’s tuition fee also increased this school year.
“Our tuition increase is usually based on inflation,” said Vice President Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, Ph.D. She said the University also tries to increase the salaries of employees so at least, the salaries will cover the inflationary rate.
“There is a [CHEd] ruling that 70% of the increase will have togo to the salaries and benefits of employees, and that’s what we do,” Cuyegkeng said.
78% of the tuition fee will go to the salaries and benefits of faculty and non-teaching personnel, while 16% will go to scholarships and financial aid. The remaining 6%, she said, is allotted for the operation of the Loyola Schools.
The percentages above apply for the tuition fee only, and do not include the miscellaneous fees.
The process
“Although we have up to 6% to increase the tuition…we said let’s try to limit it to 5%,” Cuyegkeng said.
The budget preparation for this school year began July of last year.
Departments fill up forms on their expenses, such as construction and equipment, for the incoming school year.
After receiving the forms from the departments, the VP projects the number of prospective enrollees to estimate the possible revenue. The Central Administration provides the ceiling for the budget.
The VP then collates the budgets from different departments, finalizes them, and defends the proposed budget to the Central Administration. “So it’s a very long…process and we get checked along the way,” Cuyegkeng said.
Improvement
“[The] tuition fee increase is okay as long as you see that there are changes occurring in the school,” said Stephanie Camille Javellana (III BFA ID).
Cuyegkeng said they will give their very best to improve services in the Loyola Schools. “Whether we have an increase or not, [the improvements] will be there,” she said. “Every year, we try to see how we can improve our services and other plans.”
Improvements cover both the academic and non-academic formation sectors. These improvements do not necessarily come from the increase, Cuyegkeng said. “When you prepare a budget it’s not like that…you have to look at the whole revenue and then you have to look at your total expenses.”
Mixed reactions
Some students disagree with the increase. “Mahal na ‘yun tuition (tuition is already expensive) and I think Ateneo can afford…to accommodate [everyone] and you don’t need to increase tuition,” said Loyce Trisha Beloso (II BS ECE).
“Ateneo should, in a way, find better means of helping the students cope with the financial crisis right now,” said Jose Lorenzo Angeles (IV BS HSc). “Increasing tuition is really not much of help to the students.”
However, Ramon Luis Guevara Jr. (II AB SoS) said because of the inflation, “you have to compensate the workers here in Ateneo…I guess 6% [5%] is not really that big.”
