CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia University's student-body president is calling on officials to consider freezing tuition, saying many students and their families are struggling to pay school bills.

Student government leaders hope to start talking with administrators about students' financial hardships, and plan to travel to Charleston to speak to state legislators, said student body president Jason Parsons.

Parsons said he hopes officials can pledge to not raise tuition, adding that some students have had to take on extra jobs, transfer to community colleges closer to home or drop out of school.

"Nothing can be off the table at this point," Parsons said, adding that he understands state appropriations will impact the university's budget. "A tuition freeze can't be off the table."

Earlier this month, WVU's board of governors discussed how the nation's financial crisis could affect higher education. Parsons wrote about the issue on his Student Government Association blog last week, and has sent a letter to interim President Peter Magrath.  

He also is organizing a meeting of Big East student-body presidents to write a statement to Congress on the need for increased federal financial aid.

"I think it's very important that the flagship university of West Virginia takes leadership on this issue," he said.

Parsons said WVU is "very affordable" compared to some other schools - but emphasized the word "comparable." Currently, West Virginia residents pay $5,100 per year for tuition, while nonresidents pay $15,770.

This spring, WVU's board of governors approved an 8 percent tuition hike, in part to help keep faculty and staff salaries in line with similar institutions. In 2007, tuition rose 5.5 percent.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia University's student-body president is calling on officials to consider freezing tuition, saying many students and their families are struggling to pay school bills.

Student government leaders hope to start talking with administrators about students' financial hardships, and plan to travel to Charleston to speak to state legislators, said student body president Jason Parsons.

Parsons said he hopes officials can pledge to not raise tuition, adding that some students have had to take on extra jobs, transfer to community colleges closer to home or drop out of school.

"Nothing can be off the table at this point," Parsons said, adding that he understands state appropriations will impact the university's budget. "A tuition freeze can't be off the table."

Earlier this month, WVU's board of governors discussed how the nation's financial crisis could affect higher education. Parsons wrote about the issue on his Student Government Association blog last week, and has sent a letter to interim President Peter Magrath.  

He also is organizing a meeting of Big East student-body presidents to write a statement to Congress on the need for increased federal financial aid.

"I think it's very important that the flagship university of West Virginia takes leadership on this issue," he said.

Parsons said WVU is "very affordable" compared to some other schools - but emphasized the word "comparable." Currently, West Virginia residents pay $5,100 per year for tuition, while nonresidents pay $15,770.

This spring, WVU's board of governors approved an 8 percent tuition hike, in part to help keep faculty and staff salaries in line with similar institutions. In 2007, tuition rose 5.5 percent.

Through a spokeswoman, Magrath said Tuesday that WVU officials and board members are "keenly aware" of the state's and nation's economic situation, and are closely monitoring higher education affordability.

"We appreciate hearing from students and know that rising tuition costs are putting a strain on them and their families," Magrath said. "We will keep all this in mind when it comes time to make serious decisions about tuition and fee increases this year. Obviously, the allocations we receive from the state this year will also play a role in our budgetary decisions."

With officials across the region trying to get a handle on how the current economy will affect higher education budgets, it's too early for them to make commitments on tuition issues, said Brian Noland, chancellor of the state's Higher Education Policy Commission.

"Everyone is facing increased uncertainty in this economic market," Noland said. "At this point, we don't know enough to even begin to predict where we're going to be in a year."

State higher education officials are keeping close watch on other states' economies and on bond markets, Noland said.

An economic outlook report released Monday by WVU's College of Business and Economics showed the state is on the edge of a recession, but it also said the state is "a little bit more stable and solid" than elsewhere, Noland said.

West Virginia may even have an opportunity to recruit faculty from states facing major budget shortfalls, such as Kentucky, and to market its universities to students from states with higher tuition rates, Noland said.

Reach Alison Knezevich at

alis...@wvgazette.com or 348-1240.