The Wittenberg University Board of Directors approved, at its Jan. 25 meeting, a comprehensive 5 percent increase in tuition, fees, room and board for the 2003-04 academic year.

The increase is necessary to preserve the university’s quality in the midst of the current economic downturn, according to Wittenberg President Baird Tipson.

“My most important commitment is to maintain the quality of a Wittenberg education,” Tipson said. “We believe this increase, combined with some judicious budget tightening, will allow us to pursue our mission without any adverse effect on the academic experience of our students.”

Tuition will change from $23,604 to $24,784; room charges will increase from $3,134 to $3,292; and board will increase from $2,932 to $3,080 for the full academic year. Wittenberg simultaneously increased student financial assistance eight percent, or $1.9 million (from $23.7 million to $25.6 million in 2003-04).

The university has also continued to invest in campus improvements such as the nearly completed $23 million Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center, which will formally open in August, and a second student apartment complex to be completed in July.

During a period of rapid tuition increases nationwide, Wittenberg has maintained modest increases through cost containment measures. Throughout the past four years, Wittenberg’s tuition increases have averaged 4.2 percent.

Last year tuition at the average four-year private college increased 5.8 percent, according to The College Board. The board also calculates that tuition at public four-year colleges went up 9.6 percent.